UN Expresses Concern Over New Conviction of Journalist Sherwan Sherwani in Kurdistan

Peregraf

The United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) has voiced concern following the conviction of Kurdish journalist Sherwan Sherwani, who was sentenced on August 19 by the Bnaslawa Misdemeanour Court in Erbil to four years and five months in prison in a new case.

UNAMI, which monitored the trial, stated that the sentence appeared “disproportionate” and possibly “arbitrary,” noting that the court did not provide clear reasoning for the “aggravating circumstances” cited in its ruling. The Mission stressed that the case is subject to appeal and urged the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to ensure that all judicial proceedings are fair, transparent, and in line with international human rights standards.

Sherwani’s lawyer confirmed the new ruling, which adds to the journalist’s already lengthy imprisonment. Sherwani has been in custody since October 10, 2020, when he was arrested by security forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) at his home in Erbil. His detention was part of a broader crackdown that saw the arrest of dozens of journalists and activists in Erbil and the Badinan region.

In February 2021, Sherwani and four other journalists and activists – Shvan Saeed, Ayaz Karam, Hariwan Isa, and Guhdar Zebari – were sentenced to six years in prison under Article 1 of Law No. 21 of 2003, accused of undermining the security of Kurdistan. Despite appeals, the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the verdict.

While Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani later reduced Sherwani’s sentence by half, new cases were filed against him before he could complete his term. In 2023, he was sentenced to an additional two years and six months under Article 295 and one year and six months under Article 289 of the Iraqi Penal Code, accused of forging another journalist’s signature while in prison.

Rights groups and legal advocates have long condemned Sherwani’s convictions as politically motivated. His initial arrest coincided with demonstrations by teachers and activists in Duhok, and media watchdogs report that as many as 100 journalists were detained in Badinan in August 2020 alone.

UNAMI reiterated its call for the KRG to honor its commitments to uphold the rule of law and protect media freedom. “We encourage the authorities to ensure that all criminal proceedings meet both national and international standards,” the Mission said.