New York, February 26, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the safety of an Iraqi newspaper editor who disappeared in central Baghdad on Saturday.
Jamal al-Zubaidi, 56, an economics editor for the Baghdad-based dailies As-Saffir and Al-Dustour, was last seen leaving As-Saffir’s offices in the central Karada neighborhood around 1 p.m. on Saturday, his son Riyah told CPJ. Family members called police and hospitals without avail, the son said, adding that he was not aware that his father had received any threats.
Al-Zubaidi had worked for As-Saffir and Al-Dustour for the last three years.
Two journalists for As-Saffir were killed by gunmen in September 2005 in Mosul. Another was kidnapped and held for ransom for nearly three week in March 2006.
According to CPJ research, at least 43 journalists have been abducted since 2004. Journalists Marwan Ghazal and Reem Zaeed, from the privately owned television station Samaria TV, were taken by gunmen in Baghdad’s Yarmouk district on February 1, 2006, and remain missing.
“We are very worried about the welfare of Jamal al-Zubaidi,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “We urge Iraqi authorities to do their utmost to locate our missing colleague.”