Imprisoned journalist Guhdar Zebari (file)
PM:03:04:01/12/2021
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SULAIMANI — Bashdar Hassan, head of the defense team for
imprisoned journalist Guhdar Zebari, said on Wednesday (December 1) another
charge has been filed against his client after a firearm was allegedly found in
his vehicle.
Hassan said Zebari was brought in front of the judge of
Erbil Asayish’s investigative court.
The lawyer said Zebari has denied the accusation and quoted
him as saying, "I am not a hunter and I don’t have an enemy, my only weapon is
a pen.”
Hassan said this recent case is related to several remarks
and messages from Zebari in prison which have been published.
On October 22, Zebari wrote in a letter sent from his prison
cell that he and other journalists and activists are behind bars because they
dared to speak out about corrupt leaders in the Kurdistan Region.
In the letter, he argued powerful individuals have sought to
frighten the people of Duhok and Erbil governorates into submission but have
failed in their efforts.
After being arrested in October 2020 in Duhok by security
forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Zebari was
controversially sentenced to six years in prison during a trial in February
that raised numerous concerns about the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to human
rights and the rule of law.
Journalists Sherwan Sherwani and Ayaz Karam and activists
Hariwan Issa and Shvan Saeed were also convicted and sentenced during the same
trial, which drew heavy domestic and international criticism for violations of
basic due process, such as, denying the defendants access to their lawyers.
Zebari remains in the custody of the Asayish, while the four
others were transferred to Erbil Reform Prison on September 9.
(NRT Digital Media)