Deploring reporter’s murder in Iraq, UNESCO calls for improved security

Condemning the recent murder of a United States reporter in Iraq, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today urged that greater priority be given to improving the safety of journalists in the war-torn country.

According to Iraqi police reports, freelance reporter Steven Vincent and his Iraqi translator Nour Weidi were kidnapped by five gunmen in Basra, southern Iraq, on 2 August and were later shot. Ms Weidi was reported to have been seriously injured.

“There can be no ethical or religious justification for the killing of brave individuals who take enormous risks to keep Iraq and the world informed,” UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said in a statement. “Attacking them is tantamount to attacking democracy and rule of law, in other words, to attacking the people of Iraq themselves.

“I call on all those in position of authority in the country to give due priority to improving the safety of media professionals who have paid an unacceptable toll in the exercise of their profession in Iraq,” he added.

The International News Safety Institute reports that 80 journalists and media support staff have been killed since the start of the war in Iraq in March 2003.

Mr. Matsuura’s statement was the latest in a long series of condemnations he has issued recently over attacks on journalists around the world. UNESCO’s mandate includes the defence of freedom of expression and press freedom.