UN official condemns murder of two Iraqi journalists calling it ‘extermination campaign’

The top official of the United Nations body mandated to protect press freedom today strongly condemned the murder to two more Iraqi reporters – seen as part of a “campaign of extermination” against the media – and called on the authorities to offer better protection to the press.

“I am horrified at the campaign of extermination being waged against journalists and media workers in Iraq,” Koïchiro Matsuura, director-general of the UN’s Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said in a statement.

“This campaign is jeopardizing efforts to rebuild the country as a democracy and I call on the authorities to spare no effort in seeking out and bringing to trial those responsible for crimes against media professionals,” he added.

“It has become almost impossible for journalists to carry out their professional duties in Iraq and I call on the authorities to ensure better protection to media staff brave enough to risk their lives for their work.”

Saed Mahdi Shalash, who worked for the Rayat Al Arab newspaper, was shot dead, along with his wife in their home in the west of Baghdad on 27 October. Raed Qaies, 29, who worked for radio stations Sawt Al Iraq and Somer Radio, was killed in southern Baghdad earlier this month.

“These murderers clearly aim to deprive Iraqis of the basic human right of freedom of expression, which is fundamental to the exercise of all other rights and freedoms,” Mr. Matsuura said.

According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Saed Mahdi Shalash is the 154th media worker killed in Iraq since the start of the war in 2003.

UNESCO has a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom, and Mr. Matsuura has issued frequent condemnations of the murder of journalists around the world.