The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the murder of Mazin Mardan Al-Boghdady, a young TV presenter and the second journalist to die in recent months at the Iraqi satellite channel Al-Mousiliyah

Al-Boghdady was shot dead on 17 November at his home in the district of Al-Seddiq, east of city of Mosul. In September Safa al-Din Abdel Hamid, a fellow TV presenter at the station, was also murdered.

"This latest killing confirms the horrifying reality facing journalists in Iraq today where intolerance and callous targeting sees a young journalist gunned down in his own home," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Once again we look to the authorities to take their responsibility and protect journalists from this brutal injustice."

According to media reports the police say unidentified gunmen raided the home of Al-Boghdady and shot him several times, killing him on the spot.

The IFJ backs its affiliate in Iraq, the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate (IJS) which also condemned the murder and called on the authorities to do all that is possible to capture and punish both the killers and those who ordered the murder of Al-Boghdady.

"We support the demands of Iraqi journalists that the government in Iraq takes seriously the scourge of violence against media," added White. "The current wave of violence against journalists puts claims of building democracy in the country in its proper context. When journalists are being killed with impunity it is impossible to talk of the rule of law and respect for human rights."

For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 07

The IFJ represents more than 600.000 members in 125 countries