The story: An Erbil court decision last month to jail five journalists and activists continues to stir controversy. The men were charged with actions that damage “the security, stability and sovereignty of Iraqi Kurdistan Region institutions.” The rulings have been widely denounced as politically motivated by Kurdish opposition parties as well as rights groups.

The coverage: At a Feb. 10 press conference, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said the five men “are neither journalists nor activists,” alleging that “some…were agents of foreign spy agencies.” He also stated that “some of them were armed, plotting to explode buildings, attack foreign citizens, kidnap people and destabilize the situation"...