Amnesty International has launched a letter-writing campaign, asking the public to write to the Iraqi Kurdish authorities to demand the ‘immediate and unconditional release’ of jailed Kurdish journalist Qahraman Shukri, who has been critical of Turkey’s campaign of airstrikes in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).
“Security forces in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq arrested journalist Qahraman Shukri on 27 January 2021. On 23 June 2021, the Duhok Criminal Court sentenced him to seven years in prison following a grossly unfair, secret trial,” Amnesty wrote, introducing the campaign.
They further explained that before his arrest, Qahraman Shukri’s journalism work was critical of the Kurdish authorities’ handling of Turkish airstrikes in the KRI. “The Court of Cassation upheld the seven-year sentence in October 2023. Qahraman Shukri’s arrest is in the context of a wider crackdown by Kurdish authorities on the right to freedom of expression. He must be immediately and unconditionally released,” the rights organisation urged.
Amnesty has provided a template on their website, enabling the public to email the Kurdistan Region’s President Nechirvan Barzani, demanding unconditional release and that the Iraqi Kurdish authorities “respect the right to freedom of expression and ensure that journalists are able to freely do their job without fear of arbitrary arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment.”
Shukri was detained for his critical reporting on Turkish military operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraqi Kurdistan, which Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has openly facilitated despite the deaths of civilians, displacement of Kurdish villagers, and Turkey’s de facto occupation of swathes of Kurdish territory. Turkish incursions have caused civilian casualties and severe damage in the Kurdish region of Iraq, including fatalities, injuries, extensive fires, and infrastructure damage.
Recent high-level meetings between Ankara and Baghdad occurred as Turkey prepared for a renewed military campaign in the KRI. Turkish authorities have held extensive talks with both Baghdad and the KRI to secure local support for the success of their operations.
Shukri is not the only journalist or critical opposition figure to have been detained in the KRI. Following regional protests, house raids were launched on 13 June 2020 in Duhok, Behdinan, Amiye, Şêladize, and Qeladize, and continued for several days. Approximately 400 people were detained in the raids. While 320 were later released, 76 were formally arrested.
Journalists and activists Guhdar Zêbarî, Harîwan Îsa, Şıvan Seid, Şêrwan Şêrwanî, and Eyaz Kerîm were each sentenced to six years in prison on 16 February 2021 by the Erbil (Hewlêr) Criminal Court. Again, these cases are further tied to the journalists’ criticism of Turkish military operations in Iraqi Kurdistan. Leading journalist Şêrwanî accused the government of insincerity towards the victims of Turkish bombardment while prosecuting those advocating for rights and free thought.
During their detention after being abducted by state security forces, the journalists reportedly experienced disappearance, limited legal access, torture, and ill-treatment, which were all dismissed by the court. Some have since been released, but Şêrwanî has been handed a further four-year sentence.
