Journalists Şerwan Şerwani, Guhdar Zebari and Ayaz Karam and activists Şivan Said Omar and Hariwan Isa from Behdinan were sentenced to 6 years in prison each in Hewler (Erbil) on February 16. All six people were charged with "weakening the country's independence, unity or security".

Rojnews agency reports that the 5 journalists and activists have gone on hunger strike today in protest at the poor detention conditions and the psychological and physical pressures of the prison administration.