Tribute to young journalist gunned down in Kirkuk three years ago today

Reporters Without Borders reiterates its appeal to the judicial authorities to shed light on the murder of the Kurdish journalist Soran Hama Mama, who was shot in his home in the Kirkuk suburb of Rasheed Awa by four gunmen on 21 July 2008, exactly three years ago today. The magazine Lvin is organising a tribute to Mama this evening at the Hotel Parezh in Sulaymaniyah. More than 500 participants are expected, including independent journalists and opposition figures, in a show of solidarity with this young journalist and to express their anger and concern. The events is taking place at a time of tension for journalists in Iraqi Kurdistan. They have been the victims of violence and attacks, above all by the security forces of the ruling political parties, since the start of a wave of protests in February. Mama’s murder is emblematic of the dangers to which independent journalists are still exposed in Iraqi Kurdistan. Reporters Without Borders shares the grief of his family and colleagues and condemns the lack of action by the police and judicial authorities in this case. At the time of his death, Mama has been working for three years for Lvin, an independent Kurdish-language bimonthly that is often targeted by the authorities for its outspoken reporting and its coverage of abuses and corruption, including cases involving Kurdish politicians. In the last issue prior to his death, Mama had written an article implicating Kurdish officials in prostitution. Mama’s articles were often critical of government officials and politicians and, according to colleagues, he had received many death threats. Iraq is ranked 130th out of 178 countries in the 2010 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.