Erbil court hands journalist Sherwan Sherwani another prison sentence

ERBIL — A court in Binaslawa, Erbil governorate, on Tuesday sentenced journalist Sherwan Sherwani to four years and five months in prison on a new charge, marking the third term imposed since his arrest in 2020.

Lawyer Mohammed Abdullah told reporters that the trial began at 9 a.m. and lasted more than two hours before the judge delivered the verdict. “The sentence of four years and five months is unjust. The ruling was already prepared before the hearing. We will take the case to the appeals court,” he said.

The charge stemmed from a June 2022 complaint by a prison security officer who accused Sherwani of threatening him and his family while in custody. Abdullah said the case was prosecuted under Article 229 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which covers threats against state employees, but argued the punishment should not exceed three years. “The punishment was decided inside and outside the court,” he added, describing a heavy security presence in civilian clothing inside and outside the courthouse.

Inside the courtroom, testimony was given by the officer and two prison guards. Abdullah said no video evidence was presented despite the facility’s extensive surveillance. “If Sherwan truly made threats, why was no footage presented?” he asked.

Outside the court, Sherwani’s brother, Barzan, said, “Sherwan has committed no crime. This is a great shame that political parties and organizations remain silent.” Ali Hama-Salih of the opposition National Stance Movement added, “The prison is full of cameras. If it is true, let them publish one video clip to prove it.”

The U.S.-based Community Peacemaker Teams monitored the hearing and said it documented irregularities, including restricted lawyer access to case files, militarization of the courthouse, and blocking of consular observers and Sherwani’s family. CPT said: “The hostile and unjust treatment of Sherwan Sherwani and the misuse of the judicial system against journalists and human rights defenders threatens freedom of expression and democratic life.”

Sherwani was first arrested in October 2020 and sentenced in February 2021 to six years in prison with four activists for “undermining national security.” Their sentences were later reduced by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, and the others were released in 2023, but Sherwani remained in custody.

Though scheduled for release in September 2023, he was instead handed a new four-year term weeks earlier under Articles 295 and 298 of the penal code, later reduced to two years, setting his release for September 2025. Tuesday’s ruling now extends his imprisonment by another four years and five months.