ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The German consulate on Thursday criticized a decision from an Erbil court upholding a conviction of five journalists and activists from Duhok on allegations that include meeting with and receiving funds from German and American consular officials.
The German Consulate in Erbil “regrets today’s decision by the Court of Cassation against five journalists & activists. The decision remains difficult to comprehend, lacking clear proof of punishable crimes,” it tweeted.
In February, five journalists and activists – Sherwan Sherwani, Shvan Saeed, Ayaz Karam, Hariwan Issa, and Guhdar Zebari – were put on trial for “endangering the national security of the Kurdistan Region.” They were found guilty and sentenced to six years in jail.
An appeal court has now upheld the lower court’s ruling, saying the men had intended to “target sensitive areas and establishments in the Kurdistan Region.”
“They had also contacted the American consulate and German consulate and took money from them. They also contacted the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party],” stated the appeal court’s ruling, dated April 28.
The German consulate described the court’s assertion as “absurd.”
“Free exchanges with journalists & activists are part and parcel of diplomats’ daily work,” the consulate stated. “The Court’s reference today is absurd & goes against the spirit of our close and friendly relations between [Germany] and [the Kurdistan Region].”
The US consulate has also pointed out that meeting with “a variety of people” is central to their activities, and said it expects the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) “to respect the work of U.S. diplomats.”
The German consulate called on Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani to grant the men amnesty.
The co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan also called on Barzani to intervene. "The international diplomatic missions brought us a safe haven and protected the Kurdistan Region. Accusing them with false accusations is a scandal that infringes upon the reputation of the Kurdistan Region. We must all, political parties and civilian force, face this dangerous trend," tweeted Lahur Talabany.
After the sentencing in February, Barzani called on the appeal court to “review the case, relying on and respecting law, human rights, and the legal rights of the defendant and the plaintiff so that everyone feels that their rights are protected.”
Updated at 11:49 pm
