World Press Freedom Day 'not day of celebration' for Kurdish journalists

World Press Freedom Day 'not day ofcelebration' for Kurdish journalists

Erbil, May 3 (AKnews) – Violence against journalists in Kurdastani Iraq is on the rise, said the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate (KJS) today, World Press Freedom Day.

The KJS marked the day with a one minute silence to protest the "ongoing" attacks against journalists in the region.

The rise in violence against journalists is linked to nearly two months of protests in Kurdistan Region where thousands of demonstrators took to the streets calling for reforms.

Secretary of the KJS board, Hamid Mohammed, said: "We are marking this day not only to stand behind the organizations of the world fighting for press freedom, but also because the violence against journalists in Kurdistan Region is ongoing.

"This is not a day of celebration for us because violence, arrests and the beating of journalists by the security forces continue. But we still call on journalists to abide by the ethics of their profession and we ask the relevant authorities to treat journalists in accordance with the law of Kurdistan"

Azad Hamadamin, head of KJS Erbil office said that in one recent incident, on 1 May, security forces had beaten up journalists and confiscated their equipment. The reporters were trying to cover a demonstration in front of the Iranian consulate against the execution of a Kurdish activist by the Islamic republic.

Under the recently passed demonstration law, all protests and rallies must obtain prior permission from the authorities. This law has been used to attack journalists covering the events who are classed as demonstrators by security forces.

Mr Hamadamin said: "Whether a demonstration is licensed or not is not the fault of journalists. The reporter covers whatever event takes place."

Earlier today, Iraq's Journalism Freedom Observatory said violence against journalists had shot up by 55% in Iraq.

"This indicates the almost complete absence of press freedom in all cities across the country, including Kurdistan," Ziad al-Ujaili, the Executive Director of the organization told AKnews.

Rahman Gharib, the representative of the observatory in the Kurdistan Region said: "372 attacks have targeted journalists and media professionals since 3 May last year, and most of them took place in Kurdistan. The number has increased with the growing popular demonstrations in the region and the accompanying media coverage.

"The security authorities also closed nine media institutions, and one of them is still closed now. In addition to that 11 institutions were raided."

According to the Iraqi Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, 247 journalists and media workers have lost their lives in their line of duty since the 2003 US-led allied invasion of Iraq.

By Raber Y. Aziz, contributions from Fryad Mohammed and Bashar al-Mandalawi. Edited by Patrick Smith.

03/05/2011 16:37

Attacks on journalists up 55% in Iraq

Baghdad, May 3 (AKnews) - Violent attacks against journalists in Iraq shot up by 55 per cent this year, statistics from the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory in Baghdad revealed on yesterday.

On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, Ziad al-Ujaili, the Executive Director of the organization told AKnews that violence has reached its highest level recorded, with 12 Iraqi journalists killed since 3 May 2010.

"This indicates the almost complete absence of press freedom in all cities across the country, including the Kurdistan region," he said.

"The journalists and their media institutions were subjected to fierce attacks led by special security forces in the Iraqi government, which illegally raided TV channels and media organizations to fight, what they claim as, threats by the independent media.

According to the 2011 annual report of the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, seen by AKnews, "the escalation of organized violence against journalists by the security agencies and government authorities made journalists fear imprisonment or intentional harm just for carry out their jobs. Normal operations now look impossible in the face of military and security orders that prevent journalists from taking photos or moving around without the prior approval of the authorities.

"The government has succeeded in the suppression of news on several occasions, most notably the coverage for the public protests against the lack of services in several Iraqi cities."

Rahman Gharib, the representative of the observatory in the Kurdistan Region said: "372 attacks have targeted journalists and media professionals since 3 May last year, and most of them took place in Kurdistan. The number has increased with the growing popular demonstrations in the region and the accompanying media coverage.

"The security authorities also closed nine media institutions, and one of them is still closed now. In addition to that 11 institutions were raided."

The lawyer and media expert Hassan Shaaban told AKnews: "Any restrictions on press freedom will be a violation for the most important principles of human rights, those of freedom of expression and press freedom. Moral objections and national security must not be used as pretexts to justify the suppression of these freedoms.

"The media agencies must be completely independent of all types of government censorship. After the fall of the former regime in 2003, Iraqi society changed completely and the permanent Iraqi constitution was ratified in 2005. These freedoms and rights were listed within Part II, specifically with regard to the media and the press in Article 38.

According to the Iraqi Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, 247 journalists and media workers have lost their lives in their line of duty since the 2003 US-led allied invasion of Iraq.

By Bashar al-Mandalawi
RN\PS

03/05/2011 10:52

Iraqi politicians react to bin Laden's death

Shwan Mohammed Taha, a Kurdish member of the security committee in the Iraqi Parliament.

"Bin Laden's death doesn't mean the end of al-Qaeda, because the organization has a broad base all over the world and has a great financial ability, with many supporters from different nations and they will be seeking reprisal.
"The Iraqi people want the security situation to make progress; the ideology of terror has to be rooted out thought fighting corruption and unemployment. To grow, terror always takes refuge in an environment where corruption and unemployment exist."

Adnan al-Shahmani, a Shia MP in the National Coalition block.

"The death of the al-Qaeda leader will have positive impacts on the world in general, and the stability of Iraq in particular. The organization has international influence and many cells receive orders from him"
"His death is the end of extremism in the world that has been epitomized by the organization's terrorist acts throughout the world"

Habib al-Tarafi, a Shia MP from the National Coalition block.
"The US announcement of bin Laden's death is the end of an act of a play. The US will find another play in which it will show Islam as standing behind terrorist and extremist acts"

"Muslim audiences who are aware of the way the US think have know full well that the US will create a new fiction where Muslims play the terrorist and extremist antagonist"

Sharif Sulaiman, a Kurdish MP in the Iraqi parliament.

"Al-Qaeda was besieged when their Iraq leader Abu Musaab al-Zarqawi was killed, and they will be further besieged with the death of their world leader bin Laden. But the attacks carried out by the organization will not stop unless all of its cells operating in Iraq, and the external bodies offering them help, are destroyed"

"Bin Laden's death will have positive impact on relations between Muslims and other religions, because the man who distorted the image of Islam in the minds of the followers of other religions has been killed"

Ahmed abu Risha, head of the Awakening Councils in Iraq, a Sunni armed group that supports the government in fighting al-Qaeda and other insurgent groups.

"I wish he was killed at the hands of the Iraqis, whose country al-Qaeda has destroyed"
"His death is a victory to everyone hurt by al-Qaeda. They killed innocents under the cover of Islam and religion to win the hearts of young people under the pretext of Jihad"

By Raber Y. Aziz, Contributions from Hadi al-Isami, Dilshad Zangana.

03/05/2011 13:49

Baghdad Arab Summit schedule to be decided

Sulaimaniyah, May 2 (AKnews) – Foreign ministers from Arab states are expected to meet next week to decide on a new schedule for the postponed Arab Summit in Baghdad as the Arab world is rocked by a wave of protests.

As a result of the 'Arab spring' revolts some Arab states requested that the Summit - first scheduled for March 29 - be postponed until, at the latest, 15 May.

Another contributing factor to its delay was the pressure applied the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council that was angered when Iraq – which is a majority Shia country - roundly criticized the repression of protests in Bahrain by the minority Sunni rule.

This position was also criticized by Sunni Iraqi members of parliament.

A member of the parliament's Foreign Relations Committee, Rawaz Mahdi said: "Due to the current situation, it is unlikely that the Arab Summit in Baghdad will be held on time, therefore, Arab foreign ministers are expected to meet next week in Egypt to tackle the issue"

However, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told al-Hurrah TV last month that the summit will be held on 10 May.

The summit in Baghdad is viewed by some politicians as important to Iraq's reintegration into the Arab world after the US-led invasion that toppled Dictator Saddam Hussein. A successful summit is likely to help Iraq reassure its mainly Sunni neighbors - who view the rise of Shia majority with suspicion – that cooperation is possible.

Rawaz Mahdi, who is an MP in the Kurdish Block Coalition, said the absence of a number of Arab leaders due to internal unrest in their respective countries like Yemen, Syria and Libya, will be a blow to the summit and to Iraq.

The Iraqi government has announced it has made all the necessary preparations for the summit to be hosted in Baghdad and has allocated some US$50 million for the purpose. The US Embassy in Iraq has also expressed its support for the holding of the summit in Baghdad.

In the case that Arab leaders decide not to hold the meeting in Baghdad, Egypt and Qatar have been put forward as possible alternatives.

Iraq has hosted the Arab Summit twice before - in 1987 and 1992.

By Raber Y. Aziz, with contributions from Idris Abubakr . Edited by Patrick Smith (AKnews)

02/05/2011 13:30

Jubilation and fear: Iraq responds to bin Laden death

Baghdad, May 2 (AKnews) – Amid scenes of jubilation at the death of Osama bin Laden, Iraq has tightened security measures as fears of reprisal attacks grow.

US President, Barak Obama, announced today that the al Qaeda leader was killed in Pakistan by US forces.

Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki's, office said "strict security measures have been taken in preparation for reactions" by al-Qaeda insurgents in Iraq, saying that they could not rule out a wave of attacks.

However, assurances were offered: "Al Qaeda is not able to carry out attacks in Iraq in the way it used to due to suffering from a financial crisis and failure to recruit militants. Bin Laden's death will in the long run have positive effects on Iraqi stability."

"However, his death does not mean the end of al-Qaeda, though it will be greatly weakened"

Mohammed Najem, an academic from Baghdad, said he feared that al Qaeda militants with "no principals or goals except destruction and killing" might strike back on Iraqi soil.

Al-Qaeda has been actively operating in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, killing hundreds of Iraqi civilians, police and soldiers.

However, some Iraqis have been celebrating his death by handing out sweets to friends and family and expressing their joy.

"Bin Laden killed, the murderer of Iraqis and mankind has been killed. Today is a feast day, today is happiness" shouted one Iraqi citizen, Haitham Samie, while running through the streets of Baghdad distributing sweets.

"I lost a brother and one of my friends, both were killed by al-Qaeda militants; they had not done anything any wrong. This organization has killed and left hundreds homeless, why should I not run about in joy?" he said.

Ali Mohammed al Bakri, a lawyer said: "Bin Laden's death is the victory of mankind as a whole."

Bin Laden was accused of masterminding a number of attacks on civilians around the world. The most notable of which were the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York in 2001 where 3,000 people were killed. He topped the US "most wanted" list.

President Obama , speaking at the White House, said: "We must also reaffirm that United states is not and will never be at war against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, in fact, he slaughtered many Muslims."

A US official warned its citizens traveling abroad to be wary of "enhanced potential for anti-American violence".

Bin Laden had managed to evade the coalition of western forces for almost a decade, despite a US$25 million bounty on his head. It is not known why he moved down from the mountains on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, where he was suspected of hiding, to Abbottabad a city only 100km north of Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

By Raber Y. Aziz, contributions by Haidar Ibrahim and Bradost Lawin. Edited by Patrick Smith. (AKnews)

02/05/2011 14:10