Amnesty International criticizes judicial system in Başûr, calls for immediate release of those arbitrarily detained

The judicial system in the Kurdistan Region was sharply criticized by the international organization which documented three laws that have been used to arrest and prosecute activists.

It stated that the laws are "Law No. 21 on national security, a law on defamation, and a law on the prevention of misuse of communications equipment, all of which contain very vague and broad definitions of crimes not recognized under international law."

In a report published by the organization yesterday on its website, it said that "in Duhok Governorate alone, Kurdish security forces arrested more than 100 people between March 2020 and April 2021. Most of them were released later, but at least 30 people are still in detention, among whom the five activists and journalists who have already been sentenced."

It pointed to the campaign of arrests that the Region's authorities intensified "after the outbreak of large-scale protests in August 2020, calling for putting an end to corruption and improving public services."

In this context, the international organization said, "Over the past year, the authorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have relentlessly repressed journalists and protesting activists who exercise their right to freedom of expression by arbitrarily arresting and forcibly disappearing them."

Lynn Maalouf, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International commented: "Over the past year, authorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have launched a chilling crackdown in efforts to silence critics. They have arrested and prosecuted activists and journalists on trumped-up charges in unfair trials, and harassed or intimidated family members who were not given information about the status of their loved ones."

She demanded "to put an end to the crackdown, and the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained persons. The authorities must also refrain from using vague laws to limit the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly."

The organization investigated the cases of 14 people from Badinan, in Duhok governorate, who were arbitrarily arrested between March and October 2020 by Asayish (KRG security and intelligence) and Parastin forces (Kurdistan Democratic Party intelligence) in connection with their participation in protests, criticism of local authorities or for their journalistic work. All of them were held incommunicado for up to five months, and at least six were forcibly disappeared for periods of up to three months. Eight of them claimed they had been tortured or otherwise ill-treated during detention. On 16 February 2021, five of them were sentenced to six years in prison based on "confessions" extracted under duress.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of the Kurdistan Region had approved a 6-year prison sentence against 5 journalists and activists, while Amnesty International condemned the decision and demanded their immediate release.

The organization said, "On April 28^th, the Court of Appeal confirmed the prison sentence against the activists and journalists (Sherwan Sherwani, Guhdar Zibari, Hariwan Issa, Ayaz Karam, and Shevan Saeed), and on February 16^th, the Erbil Criminal Court sentenced the five men to six years in prison after unfair trials based on fabricated charges. They must be released immediately and unconditionally."

D.H