SULAIMANI (ESTA) — A trial of four other activists who were detained in Duhok province would be held in Erbil on Monday, according to their families.
The Kurdish security forces arrested dozens of journalists and activists in Duhok last year over espionage and allegedly undermining national security in the Kurdistan Region.
Activists Masoud Shangali, Bandawar Ayub Rashid, Kargar Abbas Ali and Sherwan Taha Amin will appear in court on Monday to give their testimonies.
Five other activists Amr Khalid Agid, Firsat Ahmed Saeed, Jamal Khalil Majid, Sleman Kamal Sleman and Sleman Musa Ahmed whose trial was delayed last week would be tried on Tuesday.
The activists are accused of “undermining national security and spying for the U.S., UK, Iraqi President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi”, their families said in a joint statement.
Their families called on the human rights organization, lawyers, activists and civilians to attend the Erbil Criminal Court-2 and defend the activists.
A trial of two other activists, Omed Baroshki and Badal Barwari who is a teacher, is scheduled to be held on July 29.
In February, Erbil criminal court sentenced journalists Sherwan Sherwani, Guhdar Zebari and Ayaz Karam as well as activists Shvan Omer and Hariwan Issa to six years in prison on national security charges.
Their lawyers presented appeals twice to the court of appellate, but they were rejected.
According to lawyer Bashdar Hassan, there are still 35 more activists whose cases are still at the directorate of Asayish (security).
