Disputes accusations that station incited violence
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) strongly protests the Iraqi interim government’s closure of the Iraq offices of the Qatar-based satellite news channel Al-Jazeera. On August 7, the interim government barred Al-Jazeera from working in Iraq for 30 days, accusing the station of incitement to violence and hatred, according to news reports. Your Excellency announced the decision at a press conference, noting that an Iraqi media monitoring body had produced a report “on the issues of incitement and the problems Al-Jazeera has been causing.” You also said the ban was implemented to “protect the people of Iraq and the interests of Iraq.”
CPJ says Iraq’s new media commission troubling, calls on prime minister to clarify
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply troubled by the Iraqi interim government’s formation of a media regulatory commission that reportedly will have the authority to restrict news coverage.
CPJ says Iraq’s new media commission troubling, calls on prime minister to clarify
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply troubled by the Iraqi interim government’s formation of a media regulatory commission that reportedly will have the authority to restrict news coverage.
Government agent acquitted in photographer’s death
New York, July 26, 2004—An intelligence agent charged with killing Canadian-Iranian freelance photographer Zahra Kazemi in July 2003 was acquitted on Saturday, July 24. Citing insufficient evidence, an Iranian court acquitted Agent Mohamed Reza Aqdam Ahmadi of the “semi-intentional murder” of Kazemi, who died while in official custody last year after she was detained for…
Palestinian journalists threatened over coverage of political infighting
New York, July 22, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is alarmed by new threats against Palestinian journalists covering political unrest in the Gaza Strip, the most recent in a months-long series of actions by Palestinian militants and forces intended to stifle independent reporting there. Journalists working for the Qatar-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera and the…
Weekly newspaper allowed to resume publishing
New York, July 20, 2004—Iraq’s interim government has allowed a weekly newspaper closed by U.S. occupation authorities in March to resume publishing. Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi issued a decree on July 18 allowing for the reopening of Al-Hawza, a Baghdad weekly affiliated with radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr. A spokesman for al-Sadr said the…
TRIAL IN CASE OF MURDERED PHOTOJOURNALIST ENDS AMID CHARGES OF GOVERNMENT COVER-UP
New York, July 19, 2004—The trial of an intelligence agent accused of killing Canadian-Iranian freelance photographer Zahra Kazemi in July 2003 was suddenly brought to a close on Sunday, July 18, amid accusations from Kazemi’s legal team of misconduct. An Iranian court abruptly ended the trial of Agent Mohamed Reza Aqdam just one day after…