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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Public Statement
AI Index: MDE 14/016/2006 (Public)
News Service No: 079
28 March 2006
Amnesty International is calling on the Iraqi
government and local Kurdish authorities to ensure
that the charges against Hawez Hawezi are dropped
immediately and unconditionally
Iraq: Prosecutions threaten
freedom of expression in Kurdistan (northern Iraq)
Amnesty International is greatly concerned by the
prosecutions of two critics of the Kurdish
authorities in northern Iraq and the threat these
pose to freedom of expression in the semi-autonomous
Kurdish region.
Kamal Sayid Qadir, an Austrian national of Kurdish
origin, has been imprisoned since October 2005 for
allegedly defaming Kurdish political leaders, while
high school teacher and journalist Hawez Hawezi is
facing prosecution, also on defamation charges.
Kamal Sayid Qadir was first tried in December 2005
before the Second Criminal Court in Erbil. He was
charged with defamation arising from two articles
which he had published on the internet, in which he
strongly criticised the leadership of the Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP), one of the two parties
holding power in the Kurdish-dominated region of
northern Iraq. The trial did not satisfy
international fair trial standards and at the end of
it Kamal Sayid Qadir was convicted, although he
denied the charges and reportedly presented evidence
to support his criticism of KDP leaders, and given
an extraordinarily heavy sentence of 30 years’
imprisonment. This sentence was subsequently
overturned by the Court of Cassation, which sent the
case back to a criminal court in Erbil for re-trial.
On 26 March 2006, the court imposed a new sentence
of 18 months’ imprisonment.
While imprisoned prior to his December 2005 trial,
Kamal Sayid Qadir was reportedly held incommunicado
for three days in solitary confinement and denied
food, water or access to toilet facilities. He says
Kurdish intelligence officials coerced him into
signing a statement relating to the defamation
charges that were brought against him. He is also
reported to be in fear for his own safety because of
threats made against him by Kurdish intelligence
officials and supporters of the Kurdish leaders.
Amnesty International does not have all the details
related to his case but is concerned that Kamal
Sayid Qadir may be a prisoner of conscience, who
should be released immediately and unconditionally.
The organization is also calling for a prompt,
independent investigation into his allegations of
ill-treatment in pre-trial detention and for any
officials found responsible for such ill-treatment
or other abuses to be held to account.
Hawez Hawezi, a 31-year old high school teacher and
journalist, was detained on 17 March 2006 by
security forces affiliated with the Patriotic Union
of Kurdistan (PUK), the other main party in Iraq’s
semi-autonomous Kurdish region. He was released on
bail two days later, but also faces defamation
charges for a recent article that he published in
the Kurdish weekly newspaper Hawlati which
criticised the local Kurdish authorities. He is
reported to have been assaulted by PUK-affiliated
security officials while being driven to the
detention centre in Sulaimaniyah after his arrest.
Amnesty International is calling on the Iraqi
government and local Kurdish authorities to ensure
that the charges against Hawez Hawezi are dropped
immediately and unconditionally, and also to ensure
that his allegations that he was assaulted by PUK
officials are promptly investigated and that any
officials found responsible are held to account.
Amnesty international is also calling on the Iraqi
government and the Kurdish authorities in Kurdistan
(northern Iraq) to ensure full protection of the
right to freedom of expression and to review and
amend existing legislation which criminalises the
peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of
expression.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGMDE140162006
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