Badinan journalist held since 2020 to be released next week: Lawyer
Also in Kurdistan
Erbil stops receiving stray dogs from Bardarash after abuse video
About 23,000 families remain in Kurdistan Region IDP camps: Ministry
Earthquake measuring 4.8 felt in Erbil, surrounding areas
Horseshoeing craft in Kurdistan Region on the rise
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Sherwan Sherwani, one of the journalists arrested during the 2020 anti-government protests in Duhok, is set to be released next week after serving over four years in prison, according to one of his lawyers.
Sherwani was arrested alongside a group of other journalists and activists in October 2020 for his involvement in protests over unpaid wages by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). They were called the Badinan detainees because they came from Badini areas in Duhok province. He and four others were sentenced to six years behind bars in February 2021 on charges of 'endangering national security.'
His sentence was reduced by 50 percent in February 2022 by a decree from Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani but he was given four more years in prison by an Erbil court in July 2023 on charges of faking a legal document. The new term was handed just two months before his scheduled release. Another decree from Barzani reduced the sentence to two years.
'My client was supposed to be released on the 9th of this month, but today at 12:00 pm we completed the procedures. When I went to court, the judge had already left, and he has taken leave tomorrow, so his release will be next week,' lawyer Mohammed Abdullah told Rudaw on Wednesday.
The trials and prison sentences of the Badinan prisoners drew outcry from diplomats, media watchdogs, and human rights groups who highlighted flaws in the legal system and accused Kurdish authorities of cracking down on dissent - charges the KRG has denied.
Amnesty International has slammed the KRG for Sherwani's imprisonment, saying he was detained on 'bogus charges of espionage and sharing information with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).'
'The trial was marred by serious violations of the right to a fair trial, including allegations of torture and other ill-treatment that were not investigated, the reliance on torture-tainted confessions, and a refusal to allow defence lawyers timely access to the case files,' Amnesty lamented.
Kurdish authorities have repeatedly faced harsh criticism for their treatment of journalists as well as imposing restrictive measures on the press.
A total of 182 violations were committed against journalists and media outlets in 2024, according to figures from Metro Center for Journalists Right and Advocacy, a decline compared to the 231 violations recorded the year before.
Solin Hamadamin contributed to this report.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iran-Israel strands citizens abroad: KRG addresses flight chaos
Shafaq News/ On Friday, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) established an emergency joint committee to assist Kurdish citizens stranded abroad after Iraq closed its airspace, suspending all inbound and outbound flights. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Relations confirmed the committee, including representatives from both the Department and the Ministry of Interior, maintains contact with affected citizens and foreign authorities, emphasizing its focus on securing the safety of stranded individuals and facilitating their return. The sudden airspace closure has left many travelers stranded, especially in Istanbul, where numerous Kurdish passengers had been waiting to connect to flights bound for the Kurdistan Region. Additionally, Hajj pilgrims returning through Amman have faced disruptions caused by flight delays and cancellations. Earlier today, Karwan Stuni, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region's Hajj and Umrah Commission, confirmed that the return of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia has been interrupted due to escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. Speaking to Shafaq News, Stuni indicated that should the current conditions continue, authorities may resort to overland routes to bring pilgrims back to the Region.
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan grants amnesty, 60-ady grace period to Syrians with expired residency
Shafaq News/ The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has introduced new measures to regularize the status of Syrian nationals living in the Region with expired or missing residency permits. The Interior Ministry announced on Thursday that, under direct orders from Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the decisions will come into effect on Sunday, June 15. Under the directive, Syrians residing illegally in the Kurdistan Region will be granted a 60-working-day grace period during which they can visit residency offices to obtain or renew one-year permits. All fines for overstaying will be waived. Those wishing to return to Syria voluntarily will be allowed to exit through Erbil International Airport without penalty. The KRG will also cover travel costs for Syrians unable to afford a return journey, provided they register through the Peshawar International Portal. To ensure smooth implementation, the Interior Ministry has established special task forces in residency offices across the Region to expedite processing and assist applicants. As of April 2025, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq hosts approximately 261,939 Syrian refugees, representing nearly 97% of all Syrians currently residing in Iraq. This concentration stems from a combination of geographical, political, and humanitarian factors that have made the Region a key destination for displaced Syrians since the onset of the civil war in 2011. Many of these refugees are Syrian Kurds who share linguistic, cultural, and familial ties with the local population in Kurdistan.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Shafaq News
Global Coalition reinforces Syria bases despite US drawdown Shafaq
News/ The US-led coalition deployed extensive military and logistical reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria over the past two days, Shafaq News correspondent reported on Thursday. More than 100 trucks carrying military equipment and logistical supplies crossed from Iraq through the Al-Waleed border crossing to coalition bases in Syria's Hasakah province, according to the correspondent, who informed that the convoy included military vehicles, fuel, water, food supplies, and sealed trucks believed to contain weapons and ammunition. The trucks were dispatched to bases in Khrab al-Jeer, Qasrak, and Al-Shaddadi in rural Hasakah. The reinforcements arrived despite recent announcements from Washington regarding the reduction of US troops in Syria and the closure of at least three military bases. A source from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) told Shafaq News that US forces remain stationed at their bases in the Kurdish-controlled areas of northeastern Syria, confirming that weekly deliveries of military and logistical equipment are ongoing. He also noted that the Coalition, in coordination with the SDF, continues to monitor ISIS cells 'to prevent the group from exploiting the current situation to reorganize or carry out attacks in Syria.' Meanwhile, the SDF announced on Wednesday that it had carried out a security operation in cooperation with the coalition in the town of Al-Mansoura, west of Raqqa, targeting an ISIS cell. The statement said the operation followed close surveillance and led to the arrest of two prominent members of the group: Abdul Sattar Abdul Fattah Al-Mohammed, known as "Abu Amira," and his brother Mohammed Abdul Fattah Al-Mohammed, known as "Abu Al-Baraa," both from Al-Mansoura, who are involved in manufacturing improvised explosive devices and car bombs at a metal workshop used to produce silencers and explosives. The SDF reaffirmed its commitment to continuing security operations against the Islamic State, pointing out that the group's attempts to exploit instability in the country would be met with 'firm resistance' to safeguard civilians and public institutions in the region.
