Iraq: journalist wounded and media offices attacked in Baghdad rocket attack

One journalist was injured and a media office suffered damage following a rocket attack on Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone.

Iraqi anti-government protesters march during a demonstration near barricades over al-Sinek bridge connecting the Iraqi capital Baghdad's Sinek district to the Salhiyeh district neighbouring the high-security Green Zone, on November 17, 2019. Photo credit: Sabah Arar / AFP

Two rockets were fired during the attack, which took place on 17 November. One landed on a building housing a telecommunications company in al-Karrada district, opposite the Green Zone, injuring a journalist and damaging the media services building. The IFJ condemned the attack and is calling on the government to protect journalists . 

The rocket reached the eastern bank of the Tigris, in al-Karrada district, and landed on the building hosting several media. A broadcasting engineer who was in the Al Araby TV's office was wounded and the rocket also damaged the media services building "Iraq Art". According to reports, the rockets were targeting the Green Zone but did not reach their target.

Mass demonstrations began in Iraq a few weeks ago against poor living conditions and rampant corruption. Demonstrators are now demanding the dissolution of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi's government. Since the beginning of the protests on 1 October, at least 325 Iraqis have been killed and 15,000 injured, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of Iraq.

IFJ General secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: "Iraqi journalists must be protected and must be allowed to carry out their work safely. Their task of informing is especially crucial in times of conflict. We call on the Iraqi authorities to do their utmost to protect media workers. We also remind journalists and media to be vigilant and to put safety first in their coverage of events."

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

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