Writer jailed in Iraq for defaming Kurdish leader (WTF?)

[Charlie Brown]

All this guy did was post stuff on a web-site accusing the Kurd party of corruption.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26190947.htm

ARBIL, Iraq, March 26 (Reuters) - A Kurdish writer was sentenced to 1-1/2 years in prison on Sunday for defaming Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, in a case that has raised questions about the freedom of the press in postwar Iraq.

Karim was originally sentenced in December to 30 years' jail for defaming Barzani but was retried.

"I swear by God I am not guilty. I am not satisfied with this verdict. I am a victim," Karim said after the new sentence was pronounced. The judge said the court had been lenient.

"This sentence is fair and it is proportionate to the charges against him," judge Faridoun Abdullah told Reuters.

"We helped him. We took into consideration that he is an academic and has served in the education field. So we sentenced him to a year and a half. Otherwise we would have sentenced him to five years."

Karim had published articles on a Kurdish website accusing Barzani and his Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of corruption and abuse of power.

[Vinca]

1. And to think Americans are dying for this bullshit. nt

[Webster Green]

2. I guess that "Freedom" thingie is working out real good...

Way to spread that freedom & democracy chimpy.:*

[aden_nak]

3. Sounds like Iraqi and American freedoms are finally on the same page.

[Orrin_73]

4. The kurds finally reveal their face!!!