IFJ condemns authorities’ decision to expel 69 foreign journalists
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ Calls on Iraq to “Open Doors” and Not to Expel 69 Journalists The International Federation of Journalists today strongly condemned the decision of Iraqi authorities to expel 69 foreign journalists from the country. “The situation in Iraq requires scrutiny and people are hungry for information,” […]
French television reporters prevented from filming
(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 November 2002, RSF criticised the Iraqi government for its systematic restrictions on foreign journalists’ right to work in Iraq, accompanied by often crude attempts at manipulation. In a letter to the Iraqi authorities, the organisation noted that the government claims to allow the foreign press to work freely in Iraq and […]
Daily newspaper “Babel” closed for one month
(RSF/IFEX) – On 21 November 2002, RSF protested the government’s one-month closure of the country’s most influential newspaper, “Babel”. “Even though the paper is owned by President Saddam Hussein’s eldest son, Uday, himself a notorious censor of the media, it recently published the views of regime opponents and criticised corruption and inefficiency in the regime,” […]
IFJ calls on authorities to lift threat to expel foreign correspondents
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ Calls on Iraq to “Face The World” and Lift Threat to Expel Journalists The International Federation of Journalists today called on Iraq to withdraw its threat to remove foreign correspondents from the country next week. “In a time of crisis Iraq should have the courage […]
Al-Jazeera correspondent barred from working for 10 days
(RSF/IFEX) – On 23 July 2002, RSF protested the Iraqi authorities’ 10-day ban on Al-Jazeera television journalist Diar al-Umari, apparently because the regime did not appreciate his reporting style. “After Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco and Mauritania, it is now Iraq’s turn to censor Al-Jazeera because it no longer appreciates [the station’s] frankness,” RSF […]
Intimidation of journalist continues, another journalist receives death threats
(WAN/IFEX) – In a 4 February 2002 letter to Iraqi President Sadam Hussein, WAN and the World Editors Forum expressed their serious concern at the continuing intimidation of exiled lawyer, writer and journalist Faiq Sheikh Ali. According to reports, on 24 January 2002 Iraqi television showed the frightened faces of several members of Sheikh Ali’s […]
Human rights and freedom of expression documentation barred
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 is concerned about the UN Sanction Committee’s policy on goods to Iraq and that the UK Department of Trade and Industry is implementing sanctions without exemptions for human rights related materials. In February 2000, a package from ARTICLE 19 destined for Iraq containing human rights documentation was returned, undelivered “due […]
Journalist arrested, risks torture
(RSF/IFEX) – In an 8 October letter to Ouddai Hussein, chairman of the Union of Journalists, RSF expressed its deepest concern over the case of Hachem Hasan, a journalist arrested at the end of September 1999. He is the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Azzaoura”, which is owned by Ouddai, President Saddam Hussein’s eldest son. RSF […]
Iraq asked to produce arrested journalist
(WAN/IFEX) – On 27 August 1998, WAN asked Iraq to disclose the whereabouts of journalist Dawoud al-Farhan of the Cairo-based Middle East News Agency, who was arrested in Baghdad in July and hasn’t been heard from since. **This alert contains information further to an IFEX alert of 21 August 1998** “We are concerned that his […]
Journalist detained incommunicado in Baghdad
(RSF/IFEX) – On 21 August, RSF issued the following information about the incommunicado detention of a journalist in Baghdad. According to RSF’s sources, last month, Dawoud al-Farhan, senior journalist and reporter for the Cairo-based Middle East News Agency, was arrested at his office and taken to the Ministry of Information. Every effort by his family […]