Freedom of Expression Under Threat

Iraqi Kurdistan court rules that speaking to the U.S. Consulate and international organizations about human right is an act of espionage

“Report on the February 15-16, 2021 trial of the Badinan journalists and civil rights activists: Sherwan Sherwani, Shivan Saeed, Eyaz Karam, Hariwan Essa and Guhdar Zebari ”

Summary

On 16 February, 2021 The Criminal Court of the First Instance in Erbil found five freelance journalists and civil rights activists guilty of “espionage” and “conspiracy to commit acts that destabilize national security and stability” under Article 1 of Iraqi Kurdistan’s Parliamentary Law No. 21 of 2003. Journalists Sherwan Sherwani, Eyaz Karam and Guhdar Zebari and activists Shivan Saeed and Hariwan Essa, were each sentenced to six-year prison terms.

Members of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), an international human rights organization, observed the trial that took place on February 15 and 16, 2021. 

CPT has serious concerns about the lack of fairness and due process in the court’s ruling. No direct or reasonable evidence was presented to support the charges. The court’s claim, that speaking to representatives of the United States Consulate General, United Nations and International Organizations about the situation of human rights consists of a crime of espionage, threatens the ability of human rights defenders to work effectively in the country.

This report reviews the evidence the prosecution presented at the trial, based on which the judge sentenced Sherwan Sherwani, Guhdar Zebari, Shivan Saeed, Eyaz Karam and Hariwan Essa to six years in prison.