KRI Activists urge Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to pressure the KRG to stop their brutality against critics and freedom of the press

2022-11-16 05:03:26

Draw Media

In an Open letter, a group of activists and journalists seeking intervention from Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to Pressure the KRG to stop their brutality against critics and freedom of the press and Advocate for the impartiality of the courts and the sovereignty of the law in the region.

In October 2020, around 81 journalists and activists were arrested in Dohuk governorate of Iraqi Kurdistan, and have been behind bars because they had asked for basic rights: electricity, clean water, unpaid salaries and a solution to the high unemployment rate. The journalists had been unfortunately sentenced on the charges of “destabilizing national security and espionage”. This unjust case brought to light serious concerns about the increasing threat that narrows the scope of journalism and freedom of the press and human rights in Iraqi Kurdistan. Due to such pressures, many journalists have fled to European countries and North America - especially Canada.

The mentioned journalists, their terms having finished, are still behind bars and they are mentally and psychologically tortured. They are prevented from talking to their families and relatives and are further isolated in prison. Sherwan Sherwani, one of the imprisoned journalists, claimed that Asayesh (Kurdish security forces) threatened to sexually assault his wife if he did not confess to the false charges that had been laid against him. Ayaz Karim, another convicted journalist, was forcefully and unlawfully stripped of his national identity document. The lawyer of the journalists, Aram Raafat was abducted on October 10th, 2022 as well. Such stories illuminate the escalating plight of journalists and activists in Iraqi Kurdistan.

For many years now, the people of Iraqi Kurdistan hoped their government would uphold their promises of democracy and freedom of speech and press in the Middle East. But several journalists had been assassinated over the years, and they continue to face threats, abduction and torture by security forces.

In October 2022, the Special Anti-Terrorism group in the city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan abducted and tortured two senior journalists, Sartip Qashqayi and Ibrahim Ali, for criticizing corruption, nepotism, and mistreatment of citizens. Some journalists had already fled to the neighbouring countries due to receiving death threats. These instances show that the practice of journalism and freedom of speech has been undermined.

We, as a group of Kurdish Canadian journalists, writers, and artists strongly believe that freedom of journalism and freedom of expression are crucial aspects that contribute to the dignity and respect for humanity. According to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, freedom of expression and speech are fundamental rights of everyone. We mention this because Canada is a real partner of Iraq and Kurdistan Region, and we request that you and your cabinet condemn the unlawful imprisonment of the journalists and activists and pressure the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG) to stop their brutality and injustices against critics and freedom of the press.

The world was hoping that the KRG would become a beacon of freedom and justice not only for Iraq but for the rest of the Middle East. But unfortunately, the whole world is watching the crackdown on democracy and freedom of speech through politically motivated decisions and biased courts.

We respectfully urge you to:

Pressure the KRG to stop their brutality against critics and freedom of the press.
Pressure the KRG to withdraw the false and illegal charges against these journalists and activists and release them.
Advocate for the impartiality of the courts and the sovereignty of the law in the region.

Sincerely,