The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has denounced the continued fanatical abuse of local journalists in Iraq and Syria by the so called IS group following reports that they have kidnapped as many as ten journalists over the last few days. According to reports, among those journalists that have been taken are TV correspondent Talal Qais and cameramen Walid Akidi and Ashraf Abadi. IS troops stormed the home of the three journalists in the al-Noor and al-Sukkur districts of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul last Friday, 24 October, taking the three journalists hostage. “The so called IS group is continuing its systematic campaign of abuse, torture and murder against local journalists in Iraq in its attempts to intimidate the media and anyone who dares to speak out against their fanatical stance,” said IFJ President Jim Boumelha. “There have been many reports of journalists being kidnapped by IS, while many reporters have Mosul for fear of reprisal. “We reiterate our condemnation of these appalling attacks and we call on the government of Iraq and the wider international community to do everything in their power to secure the release of these journalists and to protect local journalists in Iraq and Syria who are working to ensure the truth is told.” For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 17 The IFJ represents more than 600 000 journalists in 134 countries