The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today warned of continuing
violence against Iraqi journalists following the wounding of a television reporter
in a bomb explosion on Monday in Baghdad.
"This was a
lucky escape from yet another vicious targeted attack on an Iraqi journalist,"
said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "We condemn this senseless violence
which threatens to add to the country's record of media victims who lost their
lives since the beginning of war in 2003."
According to
reports, the police in Baghdad have confirmed that al-Iraqiya television
journalist Alaa Muhssein was wounded in the blast caused by a sticky bomb which
had been attached to his car.
The Iraqi
Journalists Syndicat (IJS), an IFJ affiliate, has condemned the attack on the
journalist and called on the security forces and the judiciary to do the
necessary to find and prosecute the criminals. It also urged the Parliament to adopt
the Journalists' Protection law which constitutes an essential guarantee for
the future of journalism, their freedom and their families'.
The IFJ says
the latest attack on journalists in Iraq raises fears of the return to the
violent past following the invasion of Iraq during which over 250 journalists
were killed in targeted attacks. Last month, two journalists from al-Iraqiya television
channel were also murdered in Baghdad.
"The
authorities need to implement urgent protection measures for Iraqi
journalists," added White. "We support our colleagues in IJS in their fight
against impunity."
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32
2 235 22 07
The IFJ represents more than
600.000 journalists in 125 countries