30 October 2007

JOURNALIST FOUND DEAD IN BAGHDAD


A young journalist was found dead in Baghdad, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) report.

Shehab Mohammad al-Hiti, an editor for the new weekly "Baghdad al-Youm" and writer for English newspaper "Baghdad News", was last seen on his way to work on 28 October. Iraqi security forces found his body later that afternoon in Baghdad's Ur neighbourhood.

"Journalists continue to be killed in Iraq at an alarming rate, underscoring the risks of practicing what has become one of the deadliest professions in the country," says CPJ.

Al-Hiti had worked for "Baghdad News" since 2003, and worked for several dailies, including "al-Zaman" and "Babel" under the previous regime. "Baghdad al-Youm" has been publishing for only three weeks, reports CPJ.

Meanwhile, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) correspondent is still missing after eight days, reports RSF. Her driver's body was found after she disappeared on 22 October in Baghdad.

According to CPJ, at least 122 journalists and 41 media support staffers have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, making it the deadliest conflict for the press. RSF puts the number at 206. About 85 percent of media deaths have been Iraqis.

Visit these links:
- CPJ: http://tinyurl.com/38232n
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24198
(30 October 2007)



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Iraq

Journalist protection law falls short, should be repealed, says CPJ 25 January 2012 Journalist illegally detained, while another is attacked 23 January 2012 News media torched, journalists attacked and arrested in outbreak of violence 5 December 2011 New wave of abuses and intimidation against the media 31 October 2011 Series of new attacks and acts of intimidation against journalists 21 October 2011 See all alerts: Iraq


Middle East

IRAN: Translator and poet arrested, whereabouts unknown 9 February 2012 BAHRAIN: Authorities urged to grant entry to journalists 9 February 2012 SAUDI ARABIA: Journalist flees country following detention order over tweets 9 February 2012 SYRIA: Journalist killed in Homs 9 February 2012 KUWAIT: Electoral campaign marred by attacks, prosecutions against media 9 February 2012


 
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