8 December 2006

Alert

Spanish Supreme Court orders reopening of investigation into cameraman's death in Iraq


Incident details

José Couso

journalist(s)

killed

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(RSF/IFEX) - Spain's Supreme Court has ordered the reopening of the Spanish judicial investigation into the death of Spanish cameraman José Couso, who was killed when a US tank shelled the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad on 8 April 2003.

"Under the principle of universal justice, the investigation of this case falls within the jurisdiction of the Spanish legal system," the Supreme Court ruled, overturning a 10 March 2006 decision by investigating judge Santiago Pedraz to close the case.

As a result of the ruling, Spain could now request the extradition of the three US soldiers responsible for firing at the hotel.

Couso worked for the privately-owned Spanish TV station Telecinco. A Reuters cameraman, Taras Protsyuk, was killed by the same shell. A US military investigation in 2003 concluded that the coalition forces were not guilty of "any misconduct or negligence" when they shelled the hotel.



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More on this case

Court absolves US military of criminal responsibility in journalists' deaths; IFJ concerned over "culture of impunity" 15 March 2006 IFJ condemns Pentagon report findings on death of two journalists in Baghdad 13 August 2003

At a glance

Iraq
Iraq
 
Key reports and information
  • Iraq’s Information Crimes Law

    Badly Written Provisions and Draconian Punishments Violate Due Process and Free Speech

    Human Rights Watch 12 July 2012

  • World Report 2012: Iraq

    "In April Iraq’s parliament approved a Journalists’ Protection Law, intended to protect media workers and compensate them for injuries sustained while working"

    Human Rights Watch 22 February 2012

  • Attacks on the Press in 2011: Iraq

    Iraq's impunity rate, "three times worse than any other nation"

    Committee to Protect Journalists 22 February 2012

  • Press Freedom Index 2011-2012: Iraq

    Iraq fell 22 places, from 130th to 152nd in annual press freedom index

    Reporters Without Borders 25 January 2012

 
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