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20 August 2025 – Erbil
Kurdish investigative journalist Sherwan Sherwani has been handed a new prison sentence just days before his expected release, in a move widely condemned as politically motivated.
An Erbil court ruled that Sherwani must serve an additional four years and five months in prison, extending his incarceration that began in 2020. According to his lawyer, the timing of the verdict is a deliberate attempt to keep him behind bars, despite his nearing release date. Plans to appeal the ruling have already been announced.
A History of Repeated Sentences
Sherwani, a well-known investigative journalist and former editor of Bashur, was first arrested in October 2020 during a wave of anti-government protests in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
2021: Sentenced to six years in prison for “incitement and espionage.”
2022: Sentence reduced to three years on appeal.
2023–2024: Faced further convictions, including charges of falsification and other alleged offenses.
2025: Just before his anticipated release, the Erbil court issued a fresh sentence, citing accusations of threatening a prison officer under Article 229 of the Iraqi Penal Code.
Widespread Condemnation
Rights groups and press freedom advocates have long criticized Sherwani’s case as emblematic of the shrinking space for free expression in the Kurdistan Region. His defense team maintains that the latest verdict reflects political interference in the judiciary rather than a fair legal process.
Broader Implications
The repeated extensions of Sherwani’s prison term underscore growing concerns about judicial independence and the protection of journalists in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. International watchdogs, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and other rights groups, have consistently called for his release, warning that his case sets a dangerous precedent for media freedoms in the region.
References:
https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/19082025
