The United Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) is concerned by the decision of the Bnaslawa Misdemeanour Court in Erbil on 19 August 2025 to sentence journalist Mr. Shirwan Shirwani to four and a half years imprisonment on a charge that he denies.
UNAMI’s concern is driven by the fact that the sentence handed down to Mr. Shirwani may be disproportionate and its application arbitrary. UNAMI is of the view that the Bnaslawa Misdemeanour Court did not provide convincing reasoning as to what “aggravating circumstances” were taken into account.
The sentence is subject to appeal and UNAMI – which attended the court session on 19 August – will continue to follow the case.
UNAMI notes the commitments by the Kurdistan Regional Government to uphold the rule of law and human rights and encourages the KRI authorities to ensure that all criminal proceedings are transparent and fair in accordance with national and international standards.