September 24, 2025
We, the undersigned press freedom and human rights organizations, call on the Kurdistan Regional Government to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Sherwan Sherwani, who remains unjustly imprisoned for his independent reporting and targeted through systematic judicial harassment intended to silence dissent and critical journalism.
On August 20, 2025, the Erbil Criminal Court sentenced Sherwani to an additional four years and five months in prison. This is his third conviction since 2021, each widely recognized as politically motivated retaliation for his investigative works into corruption and human rights abuses. Sherwani’s only “crime” is practicing journalism.
At every stage, Sherwani has been denied the most basic guarantee of due process, including the right to a fair defense and impartial adjudication. Sherwani’s legal ordeal began with a six-year sentence in 2021, followed by another conviction in July 2023 on vague forgery charges. His latest conviction in 2025 was based on contradictory witness testimony and unverified allegations. Observers of the proceedings reported serious procedural irregularities, a lack of transparency, and an atmosphere of intimidation that rendered the trial fundamentally unfair.
The misuse of the judicial system to punish journalists like Sherwani is a grave violation of international human rights standards and undermines the Kurdistan Region’s own legal obligations and commitments to justice. His case reflects a broader and alarming decline in press freedom across the Middle East, where dissent is increasingly criminalized.
We urge the Kurdistan Regional Government to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release Sherwan Sherwani and refrain from challenging any appeal of his conviction
- End the abusive application of the law to target journalists and ensure all legal proceedings comply with international standards of fairness and transparency
- Honor its commitments to human rights and the rule of law by taking concrete measures to protect the safety and independence of all journalists working in the Kurdistan Region
The continued imprisonment of Sherwan Sherwani gravely undermines the Kurdistan Region’s international reputation as a region committed to democratic principles. We call on you to take immediate, principled action to reverse this decline, and to reaffirm your commitment to press freedom, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Signed by:
1. Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
2. Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
3. Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
4. MENA Rights Group
5. Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights & Advocacy
6. Jasana Organization for Freedom of Expression
7. The International Rights Institute (IRI)
8. Reporters for Rights and Development
9. The Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq (PFAA)
10. Iraqi Association for Defending Journalists' Rights
11. ActiveWatch
12. HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement
13. PEREGRAF Media Foundation
14. Democracy for the Arab World Now - DAWN
15. INSM Foundation for Digital Rights
16. Cartoonists Rights Network International
17. Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)
