Court Sentences Journalist Suleyman Ahmed to Three Years

A Duhok court has sentenced Suleyman Ahmed, a journalist with Rojnews, to three years in prison, drawing widespread condemnation from rights groups and concerns over the exclusion of the UNAMI representative from the court session.

In a decision met with significant backlash, a court in Duhok has sentenced Suleyman Ahmed, a Syrian Kurd and Arabic service editor at Rojnews, to three years in prison. The sentencing has sparked strong criticism from international rights organizations, who have raised concerns about the fairness of the trial and the treatment of journalists in the Kurdistan Region.

Ahmed has been detained for 279 days following his arrest by Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Security Forces at the Semalka Border Crossing. The journalist was returning from his father’s funeral in Aleppo, Northern Syria, when he was apprehended. On October 31, 2023, the Duhok Security Directorate accused Ahmed of being a ‘PKK agent,’ a claim for which no concrete evidence was presented. The authorities insisted that his arrest was not related to his journalistic activities.

Rojnews Editor-in-Chief Baran Germiyanî has staunchly defended Ahmed, asserting that he possessed all necessary documentation and press credentials, and that his work was solely journalistic. Germiyanî emphasized that Ahmed had been residing in Sulaimani for over four years before his arrest, further validating his professional and personal integrity.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement condemning Ahmed’s detention on November 2, urging Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials to disclose his whereabouts and to release him unconditionally. The CPJ’s call highlights the broader issue of press freedom and the protection of journalists in the region.

Adding to the controversy, reports indicate that the UNAMI representative was barred from attending the court session, raising further questions about the transparency and fairness of the judicial proceedings.

As the situation unfolds, the international community continues to scrutinize the Kurdistan Region’s treatment of journalists and the implications for freedom of expression in the area. The harsh sentencing of Suleyman Ahmed remains a focal point of concern for those advocating for human rights and press freedom.