Iraq Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Committee to Protect Journalists

Spanish freelance journalist Ferran Barber, seen in Iraqi Kurdistan moments before his arrest. Authorities detained Barber for weeks and he was deported on September 8. (Photo via Ferran Barber)

Spanish reporter Ferran Barber detained for weeks without charge, deported from Iraqi Kurdistan

September 10, 2019 2:40 PM EDT

Beirut, September 10, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned Iraqi Kurdistan authorities’ detention and deportation of Spanish freelance journalist Ferran Barber and urged the authorities to allow local and foreign journalists to do their jobs freely.

Kurdish security forces are seen in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, on July 17, 2019. Journalist Bryar Muhamad Mustafa has been detained in Erbil since August 21. (Reuters/Azad Lashkari)

Journalist detained in Iraqi Kurdistan without charge since August 21

September 10, 2019 1:14 PM EDT

On August 21, 2019, in Topzawa, Iraqi Kurdistan, Asayish security forces affiliated with the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) arrested Roj News journalist Bryar Muhamad Mustafa, according to a report by his employer and a statement by the Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy, a local press freedom group.

A journalist films outside the Sulaymaniyah International Airport in January 2019. Journalists in Iraqi Kurdistan say disputes between the region's main political parties, the PDK and PUK, leave the press vulnerable. (AFP/Shwan Mohammed)

Press freedom on ‘brink of extinction’ in Iraqi Kurdistan, journalists say

September 9, 2019 11:19 AM EDT

“Ever since I started working as a journalist nine years ago, I have been under constant pressure from my family, my tribe, and my community to give up journalism. Friends have been asked by security forces to sever ties with me,” said freelance journalist Guhdar Zebari, when he met with CPJ in the empty lobby…

Iraqi protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad, Iraq, on June 21, 2019. Iraq suspended U.S.-funded broadcaster Al-Hurrah for 3 months over a corruption report on September 2. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraq suspends U.S.-funded broadcaster Al-Hurrah over corruption report

September 3, 2019 3:26 PM EDT

Beirut, September 3, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Iraqi Communications and Media Committee to reverse its three-month suspension of the U.S. government-funded Iraqi broadcaster Al-Hurra.

A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard outside the Basra local government headquarters on July 19, 2019, as protesters gather for a demonstration. Basra police attempted to arrest Iraqi reporter Hassan Sabah in a raid on his home in Basra on July 23. (AFP/Hussein Faheh)

Basra police raids home, seeks arrest of Iraqi reporter Hassan Sabah

August 16, 2019 1:13 PM EDT

New York, August 16, 2019—The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the issuing of an arrest warrant and a raid on the home of Hassan Sabah, a reporter for the Iraqi news broadcaster INEWS, in Basra, and called on Iraqi authorities to allow journalists to work freely and without fear of retaliation for their reporting.

Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers are seen in Erbil, Iraq, on July 9, 2019. Peshmerga forces recently detained journalist Zuber Bradosti. (Reuters/Ako Rasheed)

Kurdish military forces detain journalist in Iraqi Kurdistan

July 29, 2019 1:15 PM EDT

Beirut, July 29, 2019 — Kurdish Peshmerga forces should immediately disclose any charges against journalist Zuber Bradosti or else release him from custody, the Committee to Protect Journalist said today.

Demonstrators are seen in Basra, Iraq, on July 19, 2019. During the protest, demonstrators assaulted journalist Ayman al-Sheikh. (Reuters/Alaa Al-Marjani)

Iraqi reporter assaulted while covering protest in Basra

July 25, 2019 3:30 PM EDT

On July 19, 2019, in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, a group of protesters assaulted Ayman al-Sheikh, a correspondent for the private Iraqi broadcaster Al-Sharqiyya, according to news reports and local press freedom group Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq.

Iraqi Kurdish security officers are seen in Erbil on July 17, 2019. That day, officers from the Kurdish Counter-Terrorism Forces assaulted Al-Jazeera reporter Ahmed al-Zawiti. (AFP/Safin Hamed)

Kurdish forces assault Al-Jazeera reporter Ahmed al-Zawiti in Iraqi Kurdistan

July 18, 2019 1:35 PM EDT

On July 17, 2019, in the Iraqi Kurdistan capital of Erbil, officers from the Kurdish Counter-Terrorism Forces assaulted Al-Jazeera reporter Ahmed al-Zawiti, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, and news reports.

A member of the Asayish is seen in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, on May 13, 2018. Asayish forces in Sulaymaniyah recently detained freelance journalist Zmnako Ismael. (Reuters/Ako Rasheed)

Kurdish intelligence officers detain photojournalist in Iraqi Kurdistan

July 15, 2019 3:00 PM EDT

On July 9, 2019, in the city of Sulaymaniyah, in Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish security forces detained and questioned freelance photojournalist Zmnako Ismael for more than an hour while he was covering the funeral of Diyar Gharib Mohammed, a senior leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party militant group, according to local news reports and Ismael, who…

Security forces are seen in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 21, 2019. The Baghdad offices of Al-Journal and 7C TV were recently raided in Baghdad following a corruption investigation. (AP/Hadi Mizban)

Armed men raid offices of Iraqi broadcaster and newspaper following corruption investigation

July 2, 2019 11:50 AM EDT

Beirut, July 2, 2019 — Iraqi authorities should investigate the armed raid against the Baghdad offices of Al-Journal and 7C TV and determine if the perpetrators were acting on behalf of a member of parliament, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.