Three international media development organizations express their grave concern that that press freedom is increasingly under threat in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Free Press Unlimited FPU, International Media Support IMS and Media in Coordination and Transition MICT, international media development organizations working to support good journalism in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, said in a statement on Wednesday, “the Court ruling of the 16th of February 2021 sentencing journalists and civil society activists to six years in prison for undermining national security, has led to grave concerns regarding the room for open public debate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.”
The five independent journalists and civil society activists were found guilty of "undermining national security" and sentenced to six years in prison by the Erbil Criminal Court on Tuesday February, 16th.
Brought before a court in the regional capital, Erbil, on February 15, the three freelance journalists (Sherwan Sherwani, Guhdar Zebari and Ayaz Karam) and the two activists (Hariwan Essa & Shivan Sa'id) are victims of a wave of arrests carried out by the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in response to a series of major protests in recent months against its handling of the economic crisis resulting from disputes over oil production, export and corruption, and reached its peak under the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last Saturday, 16 media outlets and publishing institutions in Iraq including KirkukNow media outlet, called in a statement on international organizations for protection of freedom of journalism and expression to support their efforts for immediate revocation of the jail sentence against the five journalists and activists.
“Respect for the rule of law and for the right of people to freedom of expression are crucial elements of vibrant, functioning states,” the joint statement by three international media development organizations said.
“Respect for the rule of law and for the right of people to freedom of expression are crucial elements of vibrant, functioning states,” the joint statement by three international media development organizations said.
Shayan Askari, member of parliament of Kurdistan, Iraq, told Rojnews on Tuesday “Badinan penalized detainees went on hunger strike and they are in a bad health and psychological condition.” The Asayish (Kurdish security forces) have denied any visits yet, she added.
In response to local and international denouncing of the court ruling, Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government KRG PM Masrour Barzani tweeted on Friday, “I strongly urge everyone to respect the judiciary system in the Kurdistan Region and to let it do its job independently and without interference.”
The statement called on the Kurdish authorities “choose to support the important role of journalists in contributing to the society in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq at this pivotal moment.”
The full statement
Press freedom is increasingly under threat in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
International Media Development Organizations express their grave concern that press freedom is increasingly under threat in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The Court ruling of the 16th of February 2021 sentencing journalists and civil society activists to six years in prison for undermining national security, has led to grave concerns regarding the room for open public debate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. As international media development organizations working to support good journalism in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, we are concerned by the precedent this judgment sets. Independent journalism contributes to constructive public debate.
Local journalists also expressed their fear that this court ruling will have an impact on the work of journalists in the future: “The aim behind the ruling is not only to punish these five persons, but rather to send a message to all journalists and activists that they will from now on be referred to the courts for writing a comment, a post on Facebook or expressing an opinion” (Maaz Farhan, Freelance Journalist).
Respect for the rule of law and for the right of people to freedom of expression are crucial elements of vibrant, functioning states. Open public debate in which critical views can be exchanged without fear of persecution are signs of strong and healthy governments. Overreach of legal powers will instead lead to decreasing appetite among people to engage in public debate, which is important for the unity, peace and stability. According to writer and journalist Asos Hardi, “Kurdistan stands today before a fateful moment, and it needs the support of the world's free people more than ever”.
We strongly hope that the Kurdish authorities will choose to support the important role of journalists in contributing to the society in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq at this pivotal moment.
Free Press Unlimited
IMS
MiCT
