Protesting doctor sued IQD 200 million for 'damaging' reputations

Kurdish doctor Shayan Askari has been sued IQD 200 million ($168,000) by two persons for damaging their names and reputation through the mass media following protests in March about salary delays.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdish doctor Shayan Askari has been sued IQD 200 million ($168,000) by two persons for damaging their names and reputation through the mass media following protests in March about salary delays. A court in Erbil on Monday postponed her trial until June 25.

Askari is an oncologist at Erbil’s Nanakali Hospital. She was one of the doctors who protested in the Kurdistan Region’s capital in March over the delay of salaries.

Following the demonstrations, footage circulated on social media showed two men verbally confronting Askari regarding the protest. One of the men was recorded hitting Askari’s mobile phone out of her hands after repeatedly asking her to stop filming.

The video quickly went viral along with different photos of the two men, claiming they were security members.

Askari initially issued a complaint to the Erbil court against the two men, but later withdrew it “as a sign of goodwill.”

The two men then sued Askari IQD 200 million in court for damaging their personality and reputation on social media networks by posting the video she had filmed.

An Erbil court was supposed to hear from them in a trial on Monday, but the examination was postponed to June 25, Askari told reporters.

Asked by reporters whether anyone had threatened her, she replied: “No. So far, nobody has threatened me nor asked me for anything.”

“I believe in court, and I will accept the court’s decision. I am sure the court’s ruling will be fair and just,” she added.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany