Media allowed to cover parliamentary sessions again, but placed under surveillance

Reporters Without Borders today hailed a decision by the speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Mahmoud Al Mashhadani, to allow journalists to cover its sessions again after a two-week ban. But the organisation condemned new restrictions on the media, as well as the murder of cameraman Aswan Ahmed Lutfallah of the US television news agency, Associated Press Television Network (APTN). “It is idiotic to blame sectarian rioting on the media,” Reporters Without Borders said. “While journalists have responsibilities as regards their news coverage, they also have rights which are unfortunately violated more and more in Iraq. Curbing their freedom of movement, closing down media and official threats are all part of the daily lot of Iraqi journalists.” The press freedom organisation added: “The latest measures for regulating the media announced by the Iraqi authorities are worrying. The frontier between protection of state security and censorship is fragile. We appeal to the authorities to display restraint and prudence.” The ban on journalists entering parliament and the international press centre located inside it was imposed on 27 November. Live broadcast coverage of parliamentary debates was suspended at the same time, after a stormy debate about ongoing sectarian violence. Several parliamentarians and political parties objected to the ban, calling it unconstitutional. Mashhadani had claimed that press interviews with parliamentarians triggered angry reactions in the population and exacerbated tension. Created by former US administrator Paul Bremer in 2003, the international press centre was originally meant for foreign journalists covering Iraq. It also offered training for Iraqi journalists. Located in Baghdad's green zone and equipped with Internet connections and a modern communications infrastructure, it is now a place where Iraqi journalists can work safely. Meanwhile, on 30 November, the interior ministry announced the creation of a media surveillance unit empowered to bring legal actions against the press. The ministry warned that it would “take all necessary measures against media that broadcast mendacious reports” and would “not hesitate to prosecute in order to prevent them from diverting Iraqis from the fight against terrorism.” The unit will contact journalists and news media and ask them to publish or broadcast corrections to reports deemed to be false. If they refuse, they could be prosecuted. In a 27 November communiqué, the ministry condemned satellite TV stations that “try to disorient public opinion and foster political chaos by broadcasting mendacious reports liable to undermine the public's confidence in the security forces and endanger the unity of Iraq.” Aged 35, APTN cameraman Lutfallah was gunned down today in the city of Mosul, 370 km north of Baghdad. Reuters reported that he had gone to an industrial district to get his car repaired when two gangs started shooting at each other. He was shot when he took out his camera to film the clash. A total of 139 journalists and media assistants have been killed since the start of the war in 2003. Four journalists are currently held hostage.