DAKOK Members Activity in Birmingham to Raise Awareness of Arbitrary Arrests and Human Rights Violations

On April 8th, 2025, members of the DAKOK Organization and Kurdish activists gathered in Birmingham to hold a peaceful demonstration aimed at raising awareness of the arbitrary arrests and human rights violations committed by the Kurdish authorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The protest, attended by members of the Kurdish diaspora, civil society activists, and human rights supporters, highlighted the unlawful imprisonment of journalist Sherwan Sherwany, along with fellow activists Qareman Shukry, Omed Baroshky, Hawre Kurdy, and Zewar Gerdy. These individuals, known for their outspoken advocacy for justice and freedom of expression, have been targeted by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for their criticism of the ruling parties, particularly the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK) led by Massrour Barzani, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Bafel Talabani.

The DAKOK Organization strongly condemned these politically motivated arrests and reiterated the call for the immediate release of all individuals detained for peacefully exercising their right to free expression. These actions, the organization stated, violate basic human rights and democratic principles, going against international legal frameworks such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Iraq has committed to uphold.

“We are here today to raise awareness about the ongoing repression in the Kurdistan Region,” said a representative of DAKOK. “The unjust imprisonment of journalists and activists is an affront to freedom and justice. We stand against the criminalization of dissent and call on the authorities to release those unjustly detained.”

The demonstration in Birmingham was not only a call for justice for those currently imprisoned but also a broader effort to raise awareness within the Kurdish community and the international public. DAKOK members urged the UK government, as well as international human rights organizations, to take meaningful action:

• Publicly condemn the arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists and activists in the Kurdistan Region.
• Pressure the Kurdish authorities to uphold fundamental human rights and respect democratic freedoms.
• Support initiatives that promote judicial independence, press freedom, and civil society development in the Kurdistan Region.

DAKOK reaffirmed its commitment to continue advocating for the protection of human rights and the promotion of democratic values in the Kurdistan Region. The organization stressed that the cases of Sherwan Sherwany, Qareman Shukry, Omed Baroshky, Hawre Kurdy, and Zewar Gerdy will remain open until justice is served, and their rights are fully restored.

“We will not remain silent in the face of injustice,” the statement concluded. “The struggle for freedom and justice continues, and we will stand with those who risk everything to build a more just and democratic society.”

Freedom for all journalists, activists, and writers.

End the repression. End the silence.