Media Department: Journalist Suleiman’s sentence is unjust, illegal
The Media Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria condemned the verdict issued by the authorities of the Kurdistan Democratic Party against journalist Suleiman Ahmed as unjust and illegal, and a clear violation of all international standards and laws related to journalism. The department has called on relevant organizations that protect journalists to intervene immediately for his release.
Today, the Media Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria issued a statement regarding the ruling by the Kurdistan Democratic Party authorities in S. Kurdistan against the Syrian journalist Suleiman Ahmed.
The Duhok Court, under the Kurdistan Democratic Party authorities in S. Kurdistan, sentenced journalist and Roj News editor Suleiman Ahmed to three years in prison. This decision has sparked widespread controversy among media and human rights circles.
The Media Department clarified that the detention of journalist Suleiman Ahmed from the beginning constitutes a blatant violation by the S. Kurdistan authorities. This includes the period of his detention, which violates their own laws regarding detainees, specifically Article 123 of the amended Code of Criminal Procedure of 1971, which stipulates that detainees must be allowed to meet with their lawyer within 24 hours.
The Media Department confirmed that the court’s ruling against journalist Suleiman is unjust because it relied on Article 1 of Law No. 21 of 2003 issued by the S. Kurdistan authorities.
The Media Department stated that this court is "unjust and illegal" against their colleague Suleiman Ahmed, as he was working legally in Sulaymaniyah. This is a clear violation of all international standards and laws related to journalism.
They urged international bodies concerned with protecting journalists' rights to intervene immediately for the release of journalist Suleiman Ahmed, as he has not committed any offenses and entered the crossing with official papers.
On Monday, Suleiman Ahmed, editor at Roj News, appeared before the court. He has been held by the Kurdistan Democratic Party authorities for 279 days, after the Duhok court postponed his case from June 30 to July 29.
Journalist Suleiman Ahmed was kidnapped by the Kurdistan Democratic Party forces at the Fish Khabur crossing on October 25, 2023, while returning to S. Kurdistan after visiting his family in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo on October 1.
His lawyers were able to meet him for the first time after 211 days of his abduction.
ANHA
