Call for protection and respect for work of journalists

Reporters Without Borders is deeply concerned by repeated violations of journalists' rights in Iraq, where they have been frequently targeted with impunity by sectarian militia, Iraqi security forces and the US army. “In addition to experiencing permanent insecurity, journalists are increasingly being unfairly arrested and subjected to improper searches by Iraqi security forces and the US army,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “it is unacceptable that the majority of the media already living in fear of being murdered as they leave work or being kidnapped by sectarian militia, also have to risk arrest and detention for no valid reason”, it added, pointing out that at least 150 journalists and media assistants have been killed in the country since the start of the conflict in March 2003. “We urge the Iraqi authorities and the chief of staff of the coalition forces headed by the United States to give clear instructions to troops responsible for maintaining order to allow journalists to carry out their work without interference”, added the organisation, which has recorded several cases in which journalists have recently been arrested by soldiers throughout the country. On 19 February 2007, Iraqi security forces briefly arrested Munir Asaad, of the US Arabic-language channel Al-Hurra, in the north of the country, after he filmed sectarian demonstrations in the region. The following day, US soldiers arrested Fourat Jamal al Atabi, a 31-year old freelance journalist, at his home in al Salikh, in the north of Baghdad. His family reported that he was injured during his arrest and say they still do not know where he is being held or his state of health. US forces also on 20 February burst into the offices of the daily al Daaoua, affiliated to a Shiite political party in the al-Waziriya district in central Baghdad. The soldiers singled out four journalists for interrogation and to be photographed. According to the editor of the paper, Ali Abbass, the soldiers also seized notebooks listing the names and addresses of journalists working for the paper. The raid came the day after a US Army operation against the offices of the Iraqi journalists' union. The ten security guards arrested during these raids were released on 22 February without being able to recover their weapons, for which they had permission. In another case, on 22 February, six armed men attacked the home of the editor of the daily al Doustour in the Shiite district of Sadr City, in eastern Baghdad. Fallah al Charki, who was not at home at the time of the attack, had earlier escaped several murder attempts. The following day, Jamal Riyah al Zoubaidi, 56, of the daily As-Safir, disappeared in Baghdad in dubious circumstances. His family who searched all the city hospitals still have no news of him.