Shwan Dawdi, editor-in-chief of the Kirkuk-based newspaper Hawal, sent a letter thanking CPJ for its help in overturning his conviction and one-month prison term. “I would like to express … my thanks and gratitude for your noble and courageous position to defend the freedom of the press and journalists,” Dawdi wrote.
Washington, November 20, 2008–On the day Ugandan editor Andrew Mwenda was introduced here as a recipient of a CPJ International Press Freedom Award, police back home summoned the journalist for questioning over his magazine’s hard-hitting political coverage.
New York, November 5, 2008–The Iraqi Kurdistan court of appeals should act immediately to overturn a judge’s ruling on Tuesday to impose a one-month prison term against a journalist who published critical reports about the Sulaymaniyah courthouse, CPJ said today. The journalist’s lawyer said newly adopted legislation does not appear to allow such a prison…
135 journalists and 50 support workers have died in direct connection to their work in Iraq.88 percent of media deaths are Iraqis.70 percent of media deaths were murders; 30 percent were combat-related. 79 percent of killings were committed by insurgent forces. U.S. forces were responsible for 12 percent of deaths. 62 percent of victims worked for Iraqi news organizations;…