Kurdistan Region Court of Appeals orders release of journalist Sleman Ahmed

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region Court of Appeals has ordered the immediate release of journalist Sleman Ahmed and the dismissal of all charges against him, overturning a previous conviction by the Duhok Criminal Court.

Bashdar Hassan, Ahmed’s legal representative, told 964media,“The Kurdistan Region Court of Appeal has decided to overturn all charges against journalist Sleman Mohammed Ahmed and ordered his immediate release.” He is due to be released this week.

Ahmed, an Arabic editor for the news website RojNews, was arrested on Oct. 25, 2023, while entering Kurdistan Region from Syria, where he had been visiting his family. The Security Directorate responsible for border security in Duhok governorate, accused him of carrying out “secret and illegal” work for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK.

On July 29, 2024, after eight months of detention, the Duhok Criminal Court in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region sentenced Sleman Ahmed to three years in prison on espionage charges under Article 1 of Law No. 21 of 2003 which pertains to undermining internal security. Ahmed’s legal team has denied the charges and appealed the verdict, asserting that the case lacks substantial evidence and is politically motivated.

RojNews, the outlet for which Ahmed worked, is known for its pro-PKK stance and regularly reports on the group’s activities.

In recent years, several journalists in Iraqi Kurdistan have faced arrest and imprisonment on charges similar to those brought against Sleman Ahmed. Notably, in February 2021, journalists Sherwan Sherwani and Guhdar Zebari, released on Feb 17, 2024, were each sentenced to six years in prison by an Erbil court, convicted of espionage and endangering national security. Their trial was criticized by rights groups.

Additionally, in June 2021, photojournalist Qaraman Shukri received a seven-year prison sentence.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani reduced the sentences for many of the detained journalists in 2022.

Press freedom in Iraq has significantly deteriorated throughout 2024, with journalists facing increased violence, intimidation, and legal harassment. The Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq documented 457 violations against journalists and media outlets between Jan. 1 and Oct. 2, 2024. These violations include killings, arbitrary detentions, armed attacks, physical assaults, threats, lawsuits, and restrictions on media operations. Baghdad recorded the highest number of incidents, with 105 cases, underscoring the escalating challenges media professionals encounter in the capital.