Sherwan Sherwani's
strike in prison is another form of protest against a sentence that was
welcomed with condemnation and disgust. It brings us back to the beginning of
the court sentence and makes us express our disgust with the sentence and then
his living conditions in prison.
Release Sherwan
Sherwani and Qaremani Shukri. Their imprisonment raises questions everday about
the political experience of the region, the behavior of this system with
differences and freedom of political belief, with journalists and their freedom
of work.
Don't tell us that "Sherwan’s
case is not a one of opinion, he is not a journalist.” We had an answer for these
allegations from day one and we don't believe this story. Even now, as time
goes by, there is more solidarity and sympathy for Sherwan Sherwani, and more
anger and frustration inside and outside for the sentence. Release him.
Today, Kurdistan needs
to pay more attention to human rights issues, improve the environment for
freedom of the press and to be seen as a national responsibility. This task
requires genuine political will to view media institutions, practitioners and
critics as partners rather than enemies, which blurs some of the views that
have been criticized by international organizations for years and have
tarnished the reputation of the Kurdistan Region.
In every official
meeting of Metro Center with officials, we have emphasized that arbitrary
arrests, unfair trials and repression of protests are turning the world away
from the Kurdistan Region. When they visit us, they don't ask how many new
strategic projects or tall buildings and bridges have been built in Kurdistan.
They ask about prisons! "Are there people who have been imprisoned for their
beliefs? Are there political opposition, journalists and writers in prison?
Think about it, what could be our answer?
Release Shirwan and
Qareman today, it is better than tomorrow.
Metro Center
May 1st,
2026