SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Journalist Sherwan Sherwani was sentenced to an additional four years in jail following a verdict issued by the court of Erbil on Thursday.
Sherwani has been accused of violating Articles 295 and 298 of the Iraqi Penal Code.
He has allegedly falsified a document by signing it on behalf of fellow imprisoned journalist Ghudar Zebari without permission.
His family and colleagues strongly denounced the court’s verdict against Sherwani.
“There is no rule of law, Kurdistan will be destroyed as a result,” said Sherwani’s lawyer.
“Unfortunately, today, the court was subjected to political pressure and personal pressure,” he said in a press conference before the Erbil court.
His family and colleagues shout "terrorist" against authorities after the Erbil court on Thursday sentenced Kurdish #activist and #journalist Sherwan Sherwani to four years in jail
The moment when #Sherwani was transferred to jail following the court's verdict #TwitterKurds pic.twitter.com/OatTl3K92l
— Esta Media Network (@Esta__English) July 20, 2023
Sherwani was already imprisoned for charges that were widely seen as politically motivated, according to observers and activists.
