In a recent development, Kurdish journalist Sherwan Sherwani has been found guilty of forging conditional release requests for five inmates in a prison case, as confirmed by the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Coordinator for International Advocacy.

The five prisoners, Ayaz Karam Rashid, Hariwan Isa Mohammed, Sherwan Sherwani (the journalist himself), Shvan Saeed Omar, and Gohdar Mohammed Amin, had all previously submitted requests for conditional release, which initiated the process for potential release. However, complications arose when Sherwani allegedly submitted an additional request on behalf of the five convicts with the intention of halting the conditional release process. It was discovered that the signatures and fingerprints of the other four prisoners were forged in this application.

The matter came to light when a social worker, acting in response to the refusal to request conditional release from two prisoners, Shvan Saeed Omar and Gohdar Mohammed Amin, forwarded the request to the Director of Erbil Correctional Facility. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the fingerprints on the request were not made by the two prisoners themselves.

Consequently, the prosecutor general initiated legal action against the individual responsible for the forgery to safeguard public rights and interests. The case was subsequently transferred to the Erbil Plain Investigation Court, where Sherwani was charged under Articles 289-298 of the Iraqi Penal Code No. 111 of 1969.

The trial proceeded to the Third Criminal Court of Erbil, where the prosecutor general requested the modification of the crime's description to Article 295 of the penal code based on Article 142. Following a court hearing on July 20, 2023, Sherwani was found guilty and sentenced to two years and six months under Article 295 of the Iraqi Penal Code for forgery of ordinary seals. The total sentence amounted to four years, and the verdict is open for review.

The Kurdistan Regional Government's Coordinator for International Advocacy emphasized that proxy representation and forging fingerprints or signatures on behalf of other individuals are strictly prohibited by law and considered violations of the legal system's principles. The case has garnered attention due to its involvement with a journalist and the serious implications of forging official documents.

As this case highlights issues related to forgery and legal violations, it underscores the importance of upholding the integrity of the legal process and ensuring fair and just practices within the criminal justice system. The verdict serves as a reminder that all individuals, regardless of their profession, are accountable for their actions under the law.