IRAQ: Kurdish mediation keeps journalist out of jail
January 31st, 2008
in:
CPTnet
31 January 2008
IRAQ: Kurdish mediation keeps journalist out of jail
by Cliff Kindy
On Wednesday, 26 January, three CPTers joined five independent journalists in a two-hour trip to Halabja. At 10:00 a.m., a young journalist, Nasir, would stand trial. He had been charged with libeling the Peshmerga (Kurdish military) when he wrote that all Peshmerga were corrupt. After the charges were filed, men dressed in Asaish security uniforms abducted him, beat him and ordered him to never write about the Peshmerga again. CPT attended the trial to show that an international public was concerned about this issue.
Supporters of the young man, including CPT, gathered in the investigating attorney’s office. There they learned the judge had delayed the trial, ostensibly because his son had injured his hand. Some speculated he feared the international publicity.
The supporters returned to a hall where negotiations went on without CPT involvement because of language. But soon CPT received an invitation to join a delegation heading to the Cultural Center. There the head of the Peshmerga offered a compromise: The charges would be dropped against Nasir in exchange for his retraction of the earlier statement and promise, in the future, to write criticisms using only specific evidence about the Peshmerga
The Cultural Center director and the Peshmerga wanted a clear apology and Nasir’s supporters—including independent journalists who had faced similar difficulties in writing critical pieces, his wife, a sister, and CPT—encouraged him to concede on some points.
A sheet of paper appeared and Nasir started to write. He struggled to craft his words to say what was required and yet not compromise his convictions. Supporters gathered at his side to keep encouraging him. His lawyer eventually wrote more on the reverse side of the sheet. Nasir made more revisions and then produced a second copy of the final draft on carbon film.
While Nasir was working, the discussion had continued, possibly as a cover for Nasir to work unimpeded. Journalists told the CPTers, “We would not have reached this middle ground without your presence pushing the Peshmerga spokesperson.”
The Peshmerga officer summed up his perspective, “We support freedom of speech. We accept Nasir’s apology.” Later CPT heard that Nasir received a promise that he would not experience another abduction.
So, with creative mediation work from two parties and a bit of “support” from CPT, all parties reached a deal: Nasir does not go to trial or jail, the Peshmerga polishes its image, and another round of Kurdish people building their future passes into the pages of history.
31 January 2008
IRAQ: Kurdish mediation keeps journalist out of jail
by Cliff Kindy
On Wednesday, 26 January, three CPTers joined five independent journalists in a two-hour trip to Halabja. At 10:00 a.m., a young journalist, Nasir, would stand trial. He had been charged with libeling the Peshmerga (Kurdish military) when he wrote that all Peshmerga were corrupt. After the charges were filed, men dressed in Asaish security uniforms abducted him, beat him and ordered him to never write about the Peshmerga again. CPT attended the trial to show that an international public was concerned about this issue.
Supporters of the young man, including CPT, gathered in the investigating attorney’s office. There they learned the judge had delayed the trial, ostensibly because his son had injured his hand. Some speculated he feared the international publicity.
The supporters returned to a hall where negotiations went on without CPT involvement because of language. But soon CPT received an invitation to join a delegation heading to the Cultural Center. There the head of the Peshmerga offered a compromise: The charges would be dropped against Nasir in exchange for his retraction of the earlier statement and promise, in the future, to write criticisms using only specific evidence about the Peshmerga
The Cultural Center director and the Peshmerga wanted a clear apology and Nasir’s supporters—including independent journalists who had faced similar difficulties in writing critical pieces, his wife, a sister, and CPT—encouraged him to concede on some points.
A sheet of paper appeared and Nasir started to write. He struggled to craft his words to say what was required and yet not compromise his convictions. Supporters gathered at his side to keep encouraging him. His lawyer eventually wrote more on the reverse side of the sheet. Nasir made more revisions and then produced a second copy of the final draft on carbon film.
While Nasir was working, the discussion had continued, possibly as a cover for Nasir to work unimpeded. Journalists told the CPTers, “We would not have reached this middle ground without your presence pushing the Peshmerga spokesperson.”
The Peshmerga officer summed up his perspective, “We support freedom of speech. We accept Nasir’s apology.” Later CPT heard that Nasir received a promise that he would not experience another abduction.
So, with creative mediation work from two parties and a bit of “support” from CPT, all parties reached a deal: Nasir does not go to trial or jail, the Peshmerga polishes its image, and another round of Kurdish people building their future passes into the pages of history.