Journalist kidnapped and beaten by uniformed men in Erbil

Reporters Without Borders today joined the Kurdistan Journalists Union in condemning the abduction yesterday of Nabaz Goran in the northern city of Erbil and the beating he received for several hours before being set free. Goran contributes to several media in Iraq's Kurdish region. “These practices are unfortunately only too common in Iraq,” the press freedom organisation said. “The authorities have a duty to find a way to put a stop to this kind of criminal activity. As a first step, this means conducting serious investigations in order to identify and punish those responsible.” A freelance contributor to the Media and Halati newspapers and the kurdistanpost.com website, Goran was kidnapped outside the Hotel Dam Dam in Erbil at about 10 p.m. yesterday. His abductors, five men in military uniforms, drove him out of the city, beat him with clubs and hose-pipes and told him to “hold his tongue” before setting him free a few hours later. Goran is known for being outspoken in his criticism of the authorities. Two lawsuits were brought against, but were withdrawn after mediation by the Kurdistan Journalists Union.