Kurdish journalist Sherwan Sherwani announced a hunger strike from prison, coinciding with Kurdish Journalism Day.

His lawyer, Mohammed Abdullah, stated that Sherwani’s decision was a protest against what he described as ongoing “injustices” and the authorities’ disregard for his appeals.

Sherwani, who was originally arrested in October 2020 along with other Badinan activists, has faced multiple sentences over the years. Although his prison term was reduced at one point, new charges, including allegedly threatening a prison officer, extended his imprisonment beyond his expected release date in September 2025.

His lawyer criticized the legal process, noting that the case was tied to Article 229 of Iraq’s Penal Code, which covers assaults on state employees. Abdullah argued that prison security should legally fall under police jurisdiction, not military intelligence, raising concerns about due process.

Sherwani’s supporters claim the latest charges were politically motivated to prevent his release.