Iraq: UNESCO chief condemns murder of journalists in Iraq

The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has condemned the murder of three journalists and their driver earlier this month in northern Iraq, as well as a separate deadly attack on a radio station in Baghdad.

“I condemn the killing of journalists Raad Mutashar, Imad Abdul-Razzaq al-Obeidi and Ageel Abdul-Qader, and of their driver Nibras Razzaq,” said UNESCO’s Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura on Monday. “The appalling list of journalists and media professionals who have died in Iraq is growing ever longer.”

He said the killings of media professionals in Iraq are unprecedented. “Never in history have so many journalists been murdered. Attacks against journalists constitute attacks against fundamental liberties.”

Mr. Matsuura repeated his call for the authorities to “take urgent measures to put a stop to these violent acts and to provide better protection for media personnel.”

Raad Mutashar, president of the Writers' Union in Kirkuk, was the owner of the Al-Raad media company which publishes newspapers and magazines. Imad Abdul-Razzaq al-Obeidi and Ageel Abdul-Qader worked for the company. According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), they were forced out of their vehicle, tortured and shot to death near Rashad, southwest of Kirkuk. Their driver Nibras Razzaq was also killed.

These last four murders and the death on 6 May of Russian photographer Dmitry Chebotayev, in a bomb blast targeting the American soldiers he was with, brings the number of journalists and media employees killed in Iraq in the last four years to over 200, according to the IFJ.

In a separate statement issued on Monday, Mr. Matsuura also condemned the 3 May attack by a large number of masked and armed individuals on Radio Dijla in Baghdad. One radio staff member was killed and equipment was destroyed, forcing a halt to broadcasts.

“I condemn the attack against Radio Dijla on 3 May, World Press Freedom Day,” declared the Director-General. “The attack which cost the life of the guard Adel al-Badri is only one of the many aggressions perpetrated against this radio and its staff.”

He emphasized that independent voices, such as Radio Dijla’s, are necessary for the reconstruction of a democratic Iraq. “But they are much too vulnerable,” he added.

On 17 March, Radio Dijla anchor Karim Manhal and driver Thamir Sabri were abducted. There has been no news of the two since then. In December 2006, Nabil Ibrahim al Dulaimi, a journalist for Radio Dijla, was gunned down by unknown assailants. The Committee for the Protection of Journalists is also investigating the abduction on 13 September 2006 of Muhammad Abdul Rahman, another one of the Radio’s employees.