1. Targeting by state actors and affiliated armed groups
1.12 Journalists
1.12.1 Iraq
According to Reporters Without Borders (Rapporteurs sans frontières, RSF) Iraq is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists: ‘They are often targeted by gunmen with pro-government militias throughout the country as well as by militant opposition groups including ISIL, which still poses a threat despite having been forced to retreat. The murders of journalists go unpunished, and even when investigations are opened they yield no result.’574 The November 2018 DIS/Landinfo report noted that ‘PMUs are targeting Iraqi civilian society activists and journalists.’575 According to a source consulted for the same report ‘this has very little coverage, but the attacks play an important role in silencing critics of the PMUs. Often, the armed Shia militia groups are kidnapping the activists as a scare tactics. Journalists can also be targeted, if their articles are both critical of the PMUs and gets a lot of publicity.’576 USDOS noted that in 2017, media workers feared reprisal by militias, criminal organisations, and private individuals, including political figures. Non-state actors, including militia groups, reportedly threatened journalists with violence for reporting on sensitive subjects.577 According to Dlovan Barwari, from the independent Iraqi civil rights group Legal Defense for Crimes Against Press Freedom, ‘militias don't hesitate to use all kinds of threats against
571 AI, Amnesty International Report 2016/2017 - Iraq, 22 February 2017, url.
572 A London-based independent non-profit organisation supporting Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and promoting human rights, freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, according to its website.
573 GCHR, ‘Iraqi Kurdistan: No safe haven for human rights defenders and independent journalists’, 31 December 2014, url.
574 RSF, Iraq-assailed on all sides, n.d., url.
575 Denmark, DIS, Norway, Landinfo, Iraq: Security situation and the situation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the disputed areas, 5 November 2018, url, p. 47.
576 Denmark, DIS, Norway, Landinfo, Iraq: Security situation and the situation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the disputed areas, 5 November 2018, url, p. 47.
577 USDOS, Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2017 - Iraq, 20 April 2018, url.
journalists, including killings.’578 A Baghdad-based journalist interviewed by Al Jazeera in November 2017 stated that criticising Shia militias, especially AAH or KH, is life-threatening.579 Reporting on human rights in Iraq in the period of January 2017 to June 2017, UNAMI noted significant challenges to freedom of opinion and expression. Journalists and media professionals were intimidated, abducted and in some cases, killed while carrying out their duties. UNAMI/OHCHR received reports that media professionals and protestors were allegedly subjected to attacks by ISF, armed groups and unidentified perpetrators, while working or reporting on or participating in demonstrations.580 Freedom House reported in April 2017 that ‘the Iraqi news media are diverse and collectively present a range of views, but most outlets are owned by or affiliated with political parties and ethnic factions, often leading to sharply partisan coverage.’581
Examples of treatment of journalists include:
In April 2015, Ned Parker, the Baghdad bureau chief for Reuters, was threatened on Facebook and denounced by the satellite news channel of AAH in reaction to a Reuters report that detailed lynching and looting in the city of Tikrit.582
In January 2016, unknown assailants shot and killed Al-Sharqiya TV correspondent Saif Talal and his cameraman, Hassan al-Anbaki, in Diyala Province. Al-Sharqiya later accused local militias of responsibility for the killings.583
On 28 December 2016, gunmen reportedly kidnapped a prominent female Iraqi journalist from her home in Baghdad after robbing the house; she was an ‘outspoken critic’ of the government and corruption in several local media papers and outlets.584
On 24 January 2017, members of the Iraqi Army's 11th Division allegedly beat a female reporter and a male photographer were allegedly to prevent them from reporting on the bombing of central Baghdad’s al-Nhada Zone on the same day.585
On 30 April 2017, a journalist from Diwaniya was shot by unknown armed men at his house. There was speculation that a previous posting on social media about armed groups had incited public anger and protests.586
On 23 October 2017, a prominent Iraqi writer and journalist was abducted in Baghdad by an unknown armed group. He had been critical of government operations in Kirkuk and the Prime Minister in his articles. He was released on 12 December 2017.587
On 30 October 2017, photojournalist Arkan Sharif was killed in Daquq, south of Kirkuk.588 KRG president Masoud Barzani held PMUs responsible.589
On 2 February 2018, Iraqi security forces arrested a freelance journalist at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Baghdad. He was taken to the intelligence headquarters
578 CPJ, Islamic State receded but threats to journalists in Iraq and Syria remain, 21 December 2017, url.
579 Al Jazeera, Is Iraq the most dangerous country for journalists?, 1 November 2017, url.
580 UNAMI/OHCHR, Report on Human Rights in Iraq: January to June 2017, 14 December 2017, url, p. 18.
581 Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Iraq, 28 April 2017, url.
582 Reuters, Reuters Iraq bureau chief threatened, denounced over story, 11 April 2015, url.
583 Freedom House, Freedom of the Press 2017 - Iraq, 28 April 2017, url.
584 Middle East Eye, Prominent Iraqi journalist kidnapped by gunmen, 27 December 2016, url.
585 UNAMI/OHCHR, Report on Human Rights in Iraq: January to June 2017, 14 December 2017, url, p. 19.
586 UNAMI/OHCHR, Report on Human Rights in Iraq: January to June 2017, 14 December 2017, url, p. 21.
587 UNAMI/OHCHR, Report on Human Rights in Iraq: July to December 2017, 8 July 2018, url, p. 17.
588 Iraqi News, Kurdistan TV photojournalist stabbed to death in southern Kirkuk, 30 October 2017, url.
589 Kurdistan 24, Barzani: Murder of journalist Arkan Sharif example of ‘chauvinist culture’ in Iraq, 1 November 2017, url.
in Baghdad. In the weeks prior to his arrest he posted an article to his Facebook page that was critical of the Iraqi government.590
In June 2018, a reporter based in Najaf was issued an arrest warrant and had to pay a large sum in bail to obtain his release on 6 June. The reporter had been harassed before in connection with his coverage of an alleged corruption case involving the Najaf provincial airport’s former governing board.591
On 9 June 2018, a reporter based in Fallujah was arrested at his home by policemen who did not tell him what he was charged with. On 12 June 2018 he was released without being charged.592
Between 14 July and 6 September 2018, at least seven Iraqi journalists were assaulted or detained while covering protests over government corruption and the lack of basic services in several cities across Iraq. The offices of two local media outlets were set on fire.593
On 1 October 2018, Saif Hilal Al Azawi, journalist and editor of Adhamiya News, a Facebook page providing news about the Adhamiya neighbourhood in Baghdad, was abducted by members of the Iraqi special forces and taken to an unknown location.594 1.12.2 Kurdistan Region of Iraq
In June 2018 the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in Iraq was informed of several attacks on journalists and media professionals in recent years, including threats, intimidation, physical assaults and killings, in particular in the KRI. The Rapporteur expressed her concern about the reported lack of effective investigations into the killings of Kurdish journalists and media professionals, and little or no accountability. The same report further stated that
‘his impunity has led to an overall mistrust in the criminal justice system and in turn increased fear among the media community to continue their critical reporting. This fear is heightened by their impression that the powerful figures who were the subject of criticism by the deceased journalists might be behind their killings and may even enjoy the protection of the justice system.’595
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office noted that 46 cases of assaults and death threats against journalists and media outlet closures were recorded during the December 2017 protests in Sulaimaniyah and Halabja.596
In December 2017 UNAMI/OHCHR points out that it
‘continues to receive reports of intimidation of a number of media professionals and limitations on the operation of media channels in the Kurdistan Region. Local journalism advocacy organizations have reported significant spikes in violence and harassment against journalists and media organizations in 2017, in particular in the
590 CPJ, Iraqi authorities arrest Samir Obeid at Baghdad checkpoint, 6 February 2018, url.
591 RSF, Covering corruption exposes journalists to arrest in Iraq, 12 June 2018, url.
592 RSF, Covering corruption exposes journalists to arrest in Iraq, 12 June 2018, url.
593 CPJ, Iraqi authorities shut down internet, detain and assault journalists amid protests, 14 September 2018, url.
594 RSF, RSF concerned about Iraqi journalist abducted by security forces. 3 October 2018, url; Baghdad Post (The), News editor in Baghdad arrested, taken to undisclosed location, 1 October 2018, url.
595 UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions on her mission to Iraq [A/HRC/38/44/Add.1], 20 June 2018, url, p. 9.
596 UK, FCO, Human Rights and Democracy: the 2017 Foreign and Commonwealth Office report, 16 July 2018, url.
period leading up to the September 25 referendum, around the 16 October repositioning of forces in disputed areas, and in connection with protests in December’.597
UNAMI/OHCHR further noted that
‘the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate reported 137 cases of violations against 230 journalists in 2017, compared to 45 cases against 80 journalists in 2016. The Metro Center for Journalists Rights and Advocacy, an NGO, reported even greater numbers:
419 violations against 338 journalists in 2017 in the Kurdistan Region, including six deaths, two of which were alleged assassinations, seven incidents of looting and burning media offices, and five times media offices were closed by officials or as a result of violence.’598
In April 2017 Niqash reports there have been several cases of kidnapping and beating of journalists in KRG territory in recent years. Especially journalists who criticize the local authorities are in danger.599
Examples of treatment of journalists in Kurdish territories include:
In February 2015, a journalist in the KRG was arrested and charged under the anti-terrorism law for suggesting that a Kurdish military commander should be removed from duty. He was later released, and the case was dropped.600
On 13 August 2016 a journalist working for TV, which is a channel sympathetic to the PKK, was kidnapped and found murdered in Dohuk.601 Earlier he had been threatened by Kurdish security forces over his reporting.602
On 10 July 2017 a group of men apparently associated with president Barzani attacked and beat a journalist in Erbil. Earlier that year he had already been detained and questioned by the Asayish.603
On 29 October 2017 several journalists who covered the resignation of Massoud Barzani in Erbil were attacked by angry KDP-supporters. The offices of NRT TV in Erbil and Dohuk were ransacked. Some days later a cameraman of Kurdistan TV was stabbed to death in Daquq, south of Kirkuk.604
On 19 December 2017 journalists of KNN TV and Xendan News Agency were physically attacked by security officers while reporters of NRT TV were threatened and beaten by Asayish. Journalists of NRT TV and Roj News were detained. Sympathizers of the authorities set fire to the offices of Raparin TV and the Mashxalan and Yekgrtw radio stations in Ranya. There was also arson in the bureau of KNN TV in Koy Sanjaq, north-west of Suleymania.605
597 UNAMI/OHCHR, Report on Human Rights in Iraq: July to December 2017, 8 July 2018, url, p. 18.
598 UNAMI/OHCHR, Report on Human Rights in Iraq: July to December 2017, 8 July 2018, url, p. 18.
599 Niqash, Iraqi Kurdistan’s murdered journalists still wait for justice, 20 April 2017, url.
600 Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 – Iraq, 27 January 2016, url.
601 Ekurd, Investigation continues into murder of Kurdish journalist Wedat Ali: Kurdistan Govt, 27 September 2016, url.
602 Human Rights Watch, Iraqi Kurdistan: Kurdish journalist abducted, killed, 25 August 2016, url.
603 CPJ, Armed men beat Iraqi journalist in Erbil, 11 July 2017, url; Ekurd, Kurdish journalist attacked by ‘Barzani’
armed group in Iraqi Kurdistan, 11 July 2017, url.
604 RSF, Alarming violence against journalists in northern Iraq, 31 October 2017, url.
605 RSF, Journalists arrested to prevent coverage of Iraqi Kurdistan protests, 28 December 2017, url;
UNAMI/OHCHR, Report on Human Rights in Iraq: July to December 2017, 8 July 2018, url, p. 18.
In March 2018, several journalists were harassed and/or arrested whilst covering protests against unpaid wages which took place in the cities of Akre, Dohuk, and Erbil.606