The International
Federation of Journalists has condemned the attempted assassination of a leading Iraqi television
journalist and accused the Iraqi Government of ‘scandalous negligence' over its
failure to challenge impunity in the killing of journalists in Iraqi media.
According
to local reports Imad al Ibadi, director of Al Diyar TV, was yesterday shot
three times in the head, the neck and the chest. He is in a stable but critical
condition in hospital.
Al
Ibadi is a strong critic of the American occupation of Iraq and has
exposed financial corruption in the presidential office as well as taking aim
at the Iraqi security apparatus, which he has claimed often acts illegally and outside
the Iraqi constitution.
His
forthright journalism, whether broadcast, online, or in local newspapers has
made him a prime target, says the IFJ.
"This
attack reveals how dangerous life has become for independent journalists in Iraq," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "The IFJ
supports the Iraqi Journalists' Syndicate's demand that these attackers are
found and brought to justice."
However,
the IFJ is concerned that the Government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is
not up to the job and says that the record of unsolved murders of media people
over the past few years shows a lack of urgency over the media safety crisis. The
murder of ShihabTamimi, President of the Iraqi journalists' Syndicate, in
February 2008 led to a Prime Ministerial order to establish a special
investigation, but family members today complain that the killing has been
quietly forgotten.
"The
fact is that there is a pattern of scandalous negligence in the failure of the
Iraqi authorities to investigate killings and to provide protection to
journalists," said White. "Government promises to investigate and report on
killings of journalists have turned out to be empty words. It is intolerable
that journalists are still being picked off on the streets without any proper
response by government."
The
IFJ says that the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, Jawad al-Bolani, should both take
responsibility for the failure of the Government to act. "This latest attack
illustrates that there needs to be an urgent response," said White.
For more information
contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2211
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists
in 123 countries worldwide
