Death Toll for Iraqi Journalists Reaches 139 after Targeted Killing of TV Journalist

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the killing of Ahmad Riyadh Al Karbouli, a correspondent for Baghdad TV who had received numerous threats for his work at the station.

On September 18, Al Karbouli, 25, was shot by militants in the western part of Baghdad.

Al Karbouli had received death threats before for his work for a Baghdad TV, which is owned by the Iraqi Islamic Party, a major Sunni political party.

He was the fourth Iraqi journalist to be killed in a targeted attack in September and the 139th media staffer killed since the war in Iraq started in 2003.

“The targeting of media staff in Iraq is appalling and should ring a warning bell that press freedom is under attack,” the IFJ said. “The Iraqi government cannot have a successful democracy if it cannot protect journalists and free expression.”

For more information, contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207
The IFJ has more than 500,000 members in over 100 countries worldwide