Iraq

Hadi al-Mahdi had been critical of government corruption and social inequality and was involved in Iraq’s protest movement.

“It is very clear that this attack is related to my job as an independent journalist and my vocal support for freedom,” Asos Hardi told Human Rights Watch.

Saad Al-Awsi was detained due to an article he published criticising deals that Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki had allegedly struck in order to secure his position.

In an alarming statement, senior interior ministry official Adnan Al-Asadi stated that freedom of information could now pose “a threat to internal security” in the country, and that journalists must no longer publish information about murders or arrests without the ministry’s consent because of the fragile security situation.

Politicians who have brought legal actions designed to gag the media include house speaker Osama Al-Nujaifi, who sued a local newspaper editor and two of his journalists over a series of articles criticising the maintenance of quotas in the selection of parliamentarians.

The draft law would allow authorities to curtail rights to protect the “public interest” or for the “general order or public morals,” without defining what those terms encompass.

Human Rights Watch called for an inquiry into the role of state security forces in attacks by pro-government gangs against peaceful demonstrators in Baghdad on 10 June 2011.

Alwan al-Ghorabi died in the southern city of Diwaniyya when a car bomb exploded in the city center.

While applauding the government’s professed desire to encourage media diversity and respect for freedom of expression, RSF is of the view that, in its present form, the proposed law would not help achieve these goals.

Several activists in the capital told Human Rights Watch that they believed that the increased security and recent arrests were an attempt to head off reinvigoration of public protests, amid efforts by various small protest groups to work together.

Hashem Hassan is being sued for 1.2 million euros in damages over an article in which he questioned the commission’s legitimacy and professionalism and accused it of wasting public funds.

The Kurdistan Regional Government promised a new era of freedom for Iraqi Kurds, but it seems no more respectful of Kurdish rights to free speech than the government that preceded it, said Human Rights Watch.

The lawsuit follows an article which quotes an unnamed senior member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan as evoking the possibility of assassinating three opposition leaders as the only way to end a wave of pro-democracy protests in the region.

The Draft Law’s provisions are counterproductive to its apparent objectives of protecting journalists, says ARTICLE 19.

The anniversary of Osman’s murder comes at a time of tension as journalists are constantly the targets of death threats, acts of intimidation, physical attacks and murder attempts.

The authorities should hold accountable those responsible for attacking protesters and journalists in Arbil and Sulaimaniya, including opening fire on demonstrators and beating them severely, Human Rights Watch said.