On September 10, 2025, the Dakok Organization organized a powerful and peaceful march in London, drawing members and supporters from across the Kurdish community in the UK. This demonstration, closely monitored by Iraqi authorities, was held to denounce the renewed sentencing of journalist Sherwan Sherwani and to call for the immediate release of all detained journalists and activists in the Kurdistan Region.
The march began in front of the Representation of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in London and concluded at the Embassy of Iraq, sending a clear message that repression of free speech and political dissent will not go unnoticed. Participants raised their voices in solidarity, chanting slogans and demanding justice for Sherwan Sherwani and all others imprisoned simply for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
During the march, organizers and participants raised their voices in unison, emphatically chanting that Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, is responsible for the imprisonment of Sherwan Sherwani, referring to him as “the prisoner of truth.” While assembled in front of the Iraqi Embassy, the demonstration was documented by embassy staff and recorded on video by Dakok personnel, capturing the participants’ passionate calls for justice and their solidarity with imprisoned journalists.
Video proof of monitoring and recording by staff of the Embassy
Purpose and Message
This march was not just a local demonstration—it was a global call for accountability. Dakok’s event aimed to draw international attention to ongoing human rights violations in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, highlighting the systematic repression of journalists, activists, and dissenting voices. The organization strongly condemned:
- Violations of press freedom
- Politicization of the judiciary in the Kurdistan Region
- Court rulings issued under the influence of political elites rather than principles of justice and law
In another video, the embassy staff can be seen entering after having recorded and filmed all the participants.
Such practices do not merely silence critical voices—they actively erode democracy, human rights, and public trust in legal institutions. Through this march, Dakok underscored the urgent need for judicial reform and the protection of freedom of expression.
Additional photographic evidence was captured during the event
Unprecedented Media Coverage
The London march received widespread attention, making it one of the most reported Dakok-led events to date. Coverage spanned over 20 major Kurdish and international media platforms, including reports, interviews, videos, and photo slideshows. The event’s video reached 140,000 views on Dakok’s official Facebook page alone, reflecting the march’s significant impact and resonance within the community.
Below are the media outlets and pages that covered the event — featuring reports, videos, interviews, and photo slides from the march:
- 🌐 سایتى NRT کوردى
- 🌐 سایتى NRT ئینگلیزى
- 📺 فەیسبووکى NRT ئینگلیزى
- 📰 میدیاى ناونیشان
- 🎥 ڤیدیۆى NRT کوردى فەیسبووک
- 📰 Rojnews TV
- 📰 پێگەى بنکۆڵ
- 📺 Speda TV فەیسبووک
- 🎥 Kurdfile فەیسبووک – ڤیدیۆ ١
- 📺 BK4 TV فەیسبووک
- 📰 پێگەى کۆیباس
- 📡 تودەى نیوز فەیسبووک
- 📰 سایتى کوردپرێس
- 📷 پەیجى داکۆک – فۆتۆ سڵاید
- 🎬 ڤیدیۆى ڕێپێوانەکە – ١٣٧ هەزار ڤیوو
- 🎤 لێدوانى ئەندامانى داکۆک – ٥٠ هەزار ڤیو
- 📰 سایتى هاوپشتى
- 🎥 Kurdfile فەیسبووک – ڤیدیۆ ٢
- 📰 ماڵپەڕى ڕۆژنامە
- 🎥 Kurdfile فەیسبووک – ڤیدیۆ ٣
This exceptional media attention underscores Dakok’s growing credibility as a leading voice for justice, accountability, and human rights within the Kurdish community and beyond.
A Continuing Struggle
This is not the first time Dakok has mobilized the community in defense of justice and freedom of expression. The organization has previously led three major demonstrations, each highlighting systemic violations and calling for urgent reforms in the Kurdistan Region. Each of these events reflects Dakok’s unwavering commitment to human rights and its refusal to be silenced in the face of political intimidation.
Through determined activism and peaceful mobilization, Dakok continues to champion the rights of journalists, activists, and citizens, holding authorities accountable and inspiring international solidarity.
Dakok will continue to stand for justice, freedom, and human dignity, both in Kurdistan and across the globe.
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