On August 5, 2025, in a bold and coordinated action highlighting its commitment to justice, human rights, and freedom of expression, Dakok Organisation for Right and Freedom held synchronized demonstrations across seven UK cities—London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Newcastle. These demonstrations responded to the unlawful extension of prison sentences for two prominent Kurdish journalists and human rights defenders, Sherwan Sherwani and Omed Baroshki.
While protesting peacefully outside the Iraqi Embassy in London, Dakok members reported being monitored, photographed, and filmed from the embassy’s upper floors. This surveillance raised serious safety and privacy concerns for activists and their families.
Video Proof
“We came to speak out against injustice in our homeland, only to find ourselves being watched and recorded by the very government we are protesting against,” said one Dakok member. “This behaviour is deeply alarming.”
Purpose of the Demonstrations
The demonstrations aimed to:
- Raise awareness about the worsening repression of journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
- Pressure UK political leaders to hold the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) accountable for ongoing violations of legal and human rights.
Both Sherwani and Baroshki, internationally recognized for their independent journalism, have faced repeated arrests, solitary confinement, and systemic denial of legal rights. Sherwani was handed an additional six-month sentence under questionable circumstances, while Baroshki was re-incarcerated just days before his scheduled release, reportedly following a peaceful call for transparency regarding a missing journalist. These actions reflect a broader trend of authoritarianism and suppression of dissent in the Kurdistan Region.
Persistent Pattern of Surveillance
This is not the first time Iraqi diplomatic staff have monitored Dakok protests in the UK. Similar incidents occurred:
- June 4, 2025 – Manchester: Peaceful protest recorded by Iraqi consulate staff.
- November 14, 2024 – Manchester: Dakok demonstration exposing electoral fraud saw activists being filmed by consulate staff.
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The repeated surveillance, without transparency or explanation, puts protesters and their families at risk of retaliation, harassment, or threats, both in Iraq and abroad.
Advocacy Beyond the Streets
Alongside the demonstrations, Dakok launched a UK-wide advocacy campaign encouraging supporters to contact local Members of Parliament (MPs) to:
- Raise the cases of Sherwani and Baroshki in Parliament and with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
- Apply diplomatic pressure on the KRG for the immediate and unconditional release of both journalists.
- Coordinate with civil society organisations and human rights advocates to amplify awareness.
- Demand accountability for unlawful detentions and systemic violations of freedom of expression.
Dakok’s Statement
Dakok strongly condemns the monitoring and recording of peaceful demonstrators by Iraqi Embassy staff.
“Our voices will not be silenced,” reads a statement from Dakok. “We fled persecution to find safety—and we will continue to speak for justice, dignity, and freedom, here and everywhere.”
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