IFJ Demands ‘End Impunity’ in Iraq after Murder of Sixth Journalist since October

The International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) has reiterated its call for the Iraqi government to end impunity for crimes against journalists, following the appalling murder of female TV presenter, Nawras al-Nuaimi, in the northern city of Mosul last Sunday, 15 December.

Media reports say that al-Nuaimi, who worked for Al-Mosuliyah TV, was shot as she was walking near her home in the city. Her murder took place on a day of widespread violence across Iraq that left 20 people dead.

The presenter's death means that six journalists have now been murdered in Iraq since October, with five of those murders occurring in Mosul, one of the country's most dangerous cities.

According to IFJ statistics, at least eight journalists have now been killed in Iraq this year.

In October, the IFJ launched its End Impunity campaign which is calling on the governments of Iraq, Pakistan and Russia to investigate killings of journalists and bring their perpetrators to justice.

"We express our deepest sympathies to the family and colleagues of the journalist Nawras al-Nuaimi who was murdered in cold blood for doing her job and reporting on the truth," said IFJ President Jim Boumelha.  "The escalation of intimidation, violence and brutality in Mosul and across Iraq in recent months is deeply concerning and we urge journalists working in the country to maintain their vigilance and take every measure to protect their safety at all times."

The IFJ last week welcomed the news that the government of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG) had established a committee to monitor investigations into the killing of the journalist Kawa Mohamed Ahmed "Garmyani," and the Federation has reiterated its call for the Iraqi government to take similar positive steps.

"Our End Impunity campaignis calling for an end to violence against journalists in Iraq where it is estimated that at least 300 journalists have now been killed since the US invasion in 2003," added Boumelha. "We believe that the lack of accountability for acts of violence against journalists in Iraq reinforces the culture of impunity and is the main reason why journalists in the country remain in the firing line.

"The authorities in Iraq must take the action required to ensure that the perpetrators of such extreme acts of violence against journalists answer for their crimes.  We reiterate our call for the Iraqi government to set up a special task force to conduct a detailed and independent investigation into the murder of journalists in Mosul and across the country."

For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 17
The IFJ represents more than 600 000 journalists in 134 countries