Journalist Suleiman Ahmed detained by KDP for 307 days
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) authorities have detained journalist Suleiman Ahmed for 307 days after sentencing him to three years in prison without any conclusive evidence. Efforts are ongoing to overturn the court's decision by transferring his case to the Court of Appeals in Hawler.
The KDP authorities continue to hold Suleiman Ahmed, editor of Roj News Agency, for 307 days. On July 29, the Duhok Criminal Court sentenced him to three years in prison on baseless charges, despite the absence of any evidence or document in the case file, sparking widespread controversy among media and legal circles.
Suleiman Ahmed's lawyer explained that the KDP authorities' judgment against his client should have been based on the Press Law, noting that the defense team will appeal the Duhok court's ruling.
Several organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Metro Center for Free Press, the Union of Women Journalists, and the Free Media Union, condemned the ruling against Roj News editor Suleiman Ahmed and demanded his immediate release.
Yesterday, Suleiman Ahmed's lawyers sent the case file to the Court of Appeals in Hawler, calling for the annulment of the Duhok court's decision and his release.
Lawyer Nariman Ahmed told Roj News: "Before a month has passed since Suleiman Ahmed's sentencing, we sent the file to the Court of Appeals in Hawler. We hope that the Hawler Court of Appeals will review the case impartially and overturn the Duhok court's decision because there is no evidence to prosecute and imprison Suleiman Ahmed."
Suleiman Ahmed was kidnapped by KDP forces at the Fish Khabour border crossing on October 25, 2023, while returning to S. Kurdistan after visiting his family in Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in Aleppo on October 1.
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