A Call for Free Speech in Iraqi Kurdistan

I recently participated in a demonstration held in Newcastle to stand in solidarity with those fighting for freedom of speech in Iraqi Kurdistan. This peaceful protest aimed to draw attention to the alarming restrictions on press freedom and the growing threats faced by journalists in the region.

During the demonstration, I delivered a speech directed at the UK government, urging it to acknowledge and respond to the ongoing human rights abuses in Iraqi Kurdistan. I spoke candidly about the tragic reality: journalists are being killed, kidnapped, and imprisoned simply for expressing their thoughts or reporting the truth. These acts of repression reflect the broader crisis of free expression under the ruling parties in the region-the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

I specifically highlighted the case of Sherwan Sherwani, a well-known journalist who remains imprisoned by the PDK in Erbil. His arrest and continued detention are emblematic of a system that punishes dissent and silences independent voices. Sherwani’s case is not an isolated one but part of a disturbing pattern that undermines the fundamental rights of journalists and citizens alike.

In my message to the UK government, I called for greater international awareness and pressure on the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan. The UK, as a country that champions human rights and democratic values, must not ignore these violations. It has a responsibility to speak out against oppression and to support the people of Kurdistan in their pursuit of justice, freedom, and dignity.

This demonstration in Newcastle was not just a moment of protest-it was a plea for international solidarity and action. We must not let the voices of the oppressed be silenced.