28 December 2016

Iraq: Demands for release of kidnapped woman journalist

Iraqi journalists protest against attacks

A woman journalist kidnapped in Iraq should be released immediately according to the IFJ, the world’s largest journalists’ organisation.The IFJ, representing more than 600,000 journalists around the world, today backed calls from the Iraqi Journalists’ Syndicate for more action from the authorities to secure the release of Afrah Shawqi Hammudi who was kidnapped by gunmen on Monday.Gunmen, posing as members of the security forces, broke in to her home in southern Baghdad before kidnapping her and stealing phones, computers and cash.The Iraqi Journalists Syndicate President Moaid Allami demanded that the Iraqi authorities accelerate the investigation into the circumstances of the kidnapping, insisting on the need to arrest the perpetrators and prevent the recurrence of such incidents against journalists. Ms. Hammudi works at the London-based aAsharq al-Awsat newspaper, as well as a number of news websites, including Aklaam. On Monday, she published an article which attacked armed groups that “act with impunity” in Iraq. The prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, condemned her abduction and orderedthe security services to do their utmost to find her and track down those responsible. IJS called on the authorities to work to release her, insisting on the need to keep her alive and arrest the perpetrators and prevent the recurrence of such incidents against journalists. IFJ President Philippe Leruth said: “Our thoughts are with Afrah and her family and colleagues. It is vital attempts to secure her release are increased and the circumstances surrounding her kidnapping properly investigated to help protect all Iraqi journalists”.

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