The International Federation
of Journalists (IFJ) has today called for a full ‘independent and exhaustive'
inquiry into the shooting of an Iraqi woman journalist in Baghdad by American soldiers.
Hadil Emad, 25, an editor
with Biladi TV was shot and critically wounded by America soldiers as she was heading
home in the al-Karrada district of Baghdad on 1 January 2009.
She was taken to hospital and
has undergone extremely difficult surgery involving the removal of her kidney
which had been damaged, according to the Iraqi Union of Journalists.
"The circumstances of our
colleague's shooting are suspicious," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary "and
we demand a thorough, independent and exhaustive investigation to determine
what led American soldiers to fire on an unarmed young woman."
American military
authorities in Iraq
claimed that the journalists was shot because she "acted suspiciously and
failed to respond to warnings".
But the IFJ has
challenged this account saying "there was nothing suspicious about Emad, a
journalist who was returning home from work."
The IFJ says the
American authorities should be held accountable for their action and remains concerned
about American treatment of Iraqi civilians and journalists. The Federation
remains angry that American military have kept in detention Ibrahim Jassam
Mohammed, an Iraqi journalist freelance photographer, in defiance of an Iraqi
court order for his release.
"In situations
like this too often the benefit of the doubt is placed with soldiers who
already exercise extraordinary control of life and death over civilians," said
White. "It is time for clear and full answers to be given over the actions of
the United States
military."
For more
information contact the IFJ at
+32 2 235 2207
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries worldwide