Imprisoned Iraqi Kurdish journalist Sherwan Sherwani faces additional charges, lawyer says

Authorities in Iraq's Kurdistan region have extended prison sentences and filed new charges against two jailed journalists, escalating an ongoing crackdown on press freedoms in the semi-autonomous region.

Sherwan Amin Sherwani, a Kurdish journalist imprisoned since 2020 for criticising the ruling parties, now faces additional charges of "humiliating a prison officer" and "assaulting two inmates," his lawyer, Mohammed Abdullah, exclusively told The New Arab.

Sherwani was initially arrested in October 2020 alongside a group of other activists and teachers from the Badinan area in Duhok. He was sentenced in February 2021 to six years on charges of espionage and "endangering national security."

In July 2023, he was sentenced to four additional years of imprisonment, on charges of forging the signatures of fellow inmates as per Articles 295 and 298 from Iraq's penal code.

"Sherwani is waiting for trial as per Article 229 of Iraq's penal code on charges of humiliating the officer who was responsible for the prison's security," he said. "The prison opened an investigation nearly two years ago, but they did not let me see the dossier."

"Recently, the court told me that my client is waiting for a trial," he added, noting the plaintiff's case appears to lack strong evidence. "If Sherwani does not plead guilty, he should be released in September. If convicted, he will remain in prison."

Abdullah said Sherwani had been denied basic rights. "Sherwani told me that the prison administration sent two aggressive inmates to his ward, who then disrespected him and filed a complaint. We filed a counter-complaint, but there's been no result so far," he said. "He's been mistreated from the start—denied phone calls with his family and lawyer. His ward is overcrowded, and temperatures have reached more than 52 degrees Celsius."

Reached for comment, Ihsan Abdul Rahman, director general of reform prisons at the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, told TNA that he would visit Sherwani next week and could not speak on the matter until then. He denied that Sherwani had been barred from communicating with his lawyer or family.

In a 2023 statement, Amnesty International called Sherwani's trial "grossly unfair," citing allegations of torture, denial of access to legal representation, and the use of confessions allegedly obtained under duress.

Article 229 of the Iraqi Penal Code provides up to two years in prison or a fine for insulting or threatening public employees during or because of their official duties. The sentence increases to three years if the target is a judge or a judicial body.

Another journalist, Omed Baroshki—also sentenced alongside Sherwani in 2020—was released in 2022 but recently saw his sentence extended. 

On July 29, opposition MPs from the New Generation party held a protest over what they described as unlawful action against Baroshki.

Speaking at a press conference, New Generation MP Shvan Saeed said, "The six-month extension of Baroshki's sentence is unlawful and must be overturned."

A day earlier, a court order to release Baroshki was issued but then suspended. His sentence was extended by another six months. Rahman said the extension followed a new offence committed during Baroshki's three-year probation.

The Independent Human Rights Team in Kurdistan confirmed that legal grounds were cited for reinstating Baroshki's sentence and pledged to monitor the case and prison conditions closely.

Separately, Shadost Farhad, a reporter for Zoom TV in Sulaimaniyah, was detained by security forces late Tuesday and later released. Zoom TV is affiliated with Lahur Sheikh Jangi, the leader of the opposition People's Front party.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reported that three journalists were killed in Iraq in 2024, bringing the total number of journalists and media workers killed in the country to more than 475 since 2003. The increase in attacks has stoked fears of further deterioration in press freedom.