Iraqi Kurdistan frees journalist Guhdar Zebari after over 3 years in jail

Published: February 19, 2024
Author Editorial Staff


Kurdish journalist Guhdar Zebari after been released on February 17, 2024, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: FB

DUHOK, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— Guhdar Zebari, one of the journalists detained during the 2020 anti-government demonstrations in Duhok within the Barzani-controlled regions of Iraqi Kurdistan, was released from jail on Saturday after spending more than 3.5 years in jail, as confirmed by his lawyer.

During the 2020 protests, security forces linked to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by the Barzanis detained numerous individuals in Duhok and Erbil governorates. These arrests were made in an effort to suppress public dissent, especially amidst deteriorating economic conditions and delays in public sector salary payments.

Zebari was arrested in October 2020 alongside a group of other journalists and activists, amid protests against unpaid wages by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Zebari and four others received a six-year prison sentence in February 2021 on charges of “endangering national security.”

In February 2022, Iraqi Kurdistan region president Nechirvan Barzani decreed a 60 percent reduction in Zebari’s sentence, paving the way for his anticipated release in March 2023. However, his freedom was postponed by an additional seven months after he purportedly altered the logo on a vehicle he had purchased. Subsequently, his imprisonment was prolonged by six more months in October following allegations of illegal possession of a shotgun.

The trials and ensuing incarcerations of the Badinan prisoners prompted widespread condemnation from diplomats, media watchdogs, and human rights organizations. These critics pointed to deficiencies within the legal system and accused Kurdish authorities of stifling dissent, allegations vehemently refuted by the KRG.

Three of the journalists initially handed six-year sentences were released in March 2023, leaving Sherwan Sherwani, a prominent Kurdish journalist, as the sole remaining detainee from the group.

Sherwani, slated for release in September, found himself facing an additional four-year sentence imposed by an Erbil court in July 2023 on charges of allegedly falsifying a legal document—an accusation he vehemently denied.

The Barzani administration has repeatedly come under fire for its treatment of journalists and imposition of stringent press restrictions. Human Rights Watch, in its January annual report, highlighted the use of vaguely worded laws to suppress journalists, activists, and political dissidents.

Earlier this month, the US Consulate in Erbil expressed concern over the “recent regression” in press freedom within the Kurdistan Region, a statement swiftly rebutted by the KRG, which claimed the diplomatic mission had, in fact, acknowledged a “decline” in violations against journalists.

According to data from the Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy, there were a total of 249 reported violations against journalists and media outlets in 2023, marking a significant decrease from the 431 recorded incidents the previous year.

As of February 2024, Kurdish journalist Sleman Mohammed Ahmed has been missing for four months following his arrest by forces affiliated with the Barzanis.

Read more about Freedom of Expression and Journalism in Iraqi Kurdistan

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