2016, The Year of Press Risks and Challenges

Press workers in Iraq still suffer the burden of terrorist fire and militias, mouth muzzling directives issued by security commands and political whims, blocking the road in front of press function, and the reckless legislative authority that took no serious step in reforming the inherited corrupted laws concerning press. All these together participated in transforming Iraq to a deserving number one worst press environment in the world.

2016 did not differ much from previous years in terms of the size of challenges and variation of risk sources.   Ten journalists were killed this year, whereas 17 journalists and press photographers were injured due to ongoing military action to liberate and restore Iraqi grounds from ISIS’ grip.

Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq observed the closure of three media bodies and 11 weapon threatening assaults in different parts of the country. 48 violations and duty performance bans were listed this year against various press personnel and teams imposed by official sides and security forces.

Court of Publishing and Media recorded 1327 lawsuits both being criminal and civil filed against Iraqi journalists.

Ten press personnel add to Iraqi martyrs

Ten journalists were killed during 2016, four were assassinated by unidentified fire, and two others were killed by ISIS, in Mosul and Kirkuk, whereas another four were killed during military operations’ coverage in Mosul, after Ramadi and Fallujah.

Anonymous fires:

• 12/1/2016: Alsharqiya news correspondent and cameraman, Saif Talal and Hasan Alambaky were killed in Diyala.
• 13/8/2016: security forces found the body of Ruz News correspondent Wadat Hussein, the agency is related to PKK, the body was found on the highway between Semeil area and Duhouk, after several hours of his abduction from the center of the province.
• 1/12/2016: KNN correspondent and camearman Shukur Zainuldein, was killed and his body was found in Alimadiya district in Duhouk, after four days of abduction.
• 6/12/2016: Head Manager of Baba KurKir Radio was attacked by militants riding a white Corolla, Mohammad Thabit whose radio was linked to Iraqi Media Network, was killed during driving his car in AlUrouba area in the middle of Kirkuk.

ISIS victims:

• 8/10/2016: Dahham Mohammad, who works for Almousuliya Channel, died suffering from torture in one of ISIS prisons in Mosul.
• 21/10/2016: Ahmad Hajer, newsroom manager In Turkmen Eli, Kirkuk, was killed by an ISIS sniper during their attack against the city.

Martyrs of war:

• 13/7/2016: Ali Mahmoud, cameraman of Alghadeer Satellite Channel, was killed by a mortar shelling by ISIS that targeted media teams.
• 19/8/2016: Ali Ghani, broadcasting engineer in Alahad Satellite Channel was killed during a missile attack against Alkhaldiya desert that targeted media personnel in the area.
• 22/10/2016: Ali Reisan, Sumeria channel cameraman was killed by a sniper. The shot was directed to his chest during his coverage of Mosul battles in Alkhuwein village south of Alshoura district, in Qyara operations square.

It is noted that the impunity file is still lagging between the United Nations and Iraqi Government. The affected families were ignored and continuing violence against the press family was encouraged for lack of accountability. Many journalists and media workers were accordingly forced to be internally or externally displaced after being seriously threatened.

The association developed full certainty that these legislations are too far from being considered as a priority for the Iraqi government at the time being. Culture and Media Committee focused on raising the issues that reflect their interests without stirring the subject of freedom of expression or any related demanding issues for press personnel. This conduct violates Iraq’s commitment towards the international agreements and conventions that it signed and its pledge to function according to international standards.

War correspondents, rich in courage, poor in training

The association points out that the focus of ISIS in warzones is against media teams and press personnel, this targeting resulted in injuring 16 press correspondents and photographers, 4 others were killed, and 6 local, Arabic, and foreign press teams survived similar attacks till setting this report.

• 1/1/2016: Ali Najim, correspondent for Alishraq Satellite Channel, sustained injuries during Ramadi liberation operations.
• 28/5/2016: Dhiyaa Alnasiry, a presenter in Iraqia Satellite Channel, sustained minor injuries after being targeted by a sniper. The incident took place in Falluja where Alnasiry escorted security forces.
• 17/6/2016: Abbas Alalawy, cameraman, was injured by an explosive filling during covering the ongoing battle in Fallujah.
• 18/6/2016: Sabah Hakim, Biladi channel correspondent, was injured during Fallujah operations.
• 2/7/2016: press photographer Arwa Altimimi, was injured by a detonated explosive filling in Qayara south of Mosul.
• 13/7/2016: both Iraqi Media Network correspondent and cameraman, Ali Jawad and Ali Muftin, were injured by a missile; a normal practice of ISIS that always targets press in Qayara , an incident that repeated over with Alghadeer cameraman Ali Mahmoud.
• 30/7/2016: Amjad Alsalim, Alghadeer Satellite channel’s cameraman was seriously injured during covering liberation operations in Khaldiya desert, on day one.

• 19/8/2016: Hussein Alfaris, Alahad correspondent was injured due to a missile targeting media teams in Alkhaldiya Area, whereas Ali Ghani, the channel’s broadcasting engineer was killed.
• 27/8/2016: Afaq Satellite Channel cameraman, Ezzat Abbas, was injured during covering the operations of Khaldiya area. The injuries were sustained due to a military confrontation with ISIS elements.
• 21/10/2016: Kurdish Speda TV’s correspondent, Yaser Abdulrahman, was injured due to an explosive filling that hit their vehicle in Nouran axis during covering the northern Mosul operations.
• In the aforementioned incident, Speda cameraman Hejir Berwari, was also injured.
• 31/10/2016: Maitham Alamiri, Alahad Satellite Channel’s correspondent was injured during the coverage of Msherfa operations in the southern part of Mosul, when a booby-tapped house exploded nearby.
• At the same incident, Rafid Jabbar, Alahad cameraman, was also injured in the same incident.
• 5/11/2016: Ahmad Alzaidi, Alfurat Satellite Channel correspondent was injured during the battles of the right bank of Mosul. The victim sustained serious injuries as fragments of a nearby falling missile hit his head and chest. It is to be noted that this is the second time that Alzaidi witnesses such an incident since he was injured last year in a similar attack.
• 5/11/2016: Sumaria cameraman Khalil Ismaiil, was injured when storming the western bank of Mosul.
• 18/11/2016: K24 correspondent was injured. Mohammad Halabchi was shot by an ISIS sniper when covering Mosul operations.
• 18/11/2016: Biladi media team was attacked by sniper’s fire when returning from a coverage in Altahrir Avenue to Kukchli Mosul. SNG vehicle was seriously damaged.

In addition to all that was mentioned above, seven members of different media teams who are related to war media sections of the security and defense apparatus that participated in liberation operations in Fallujah, Ramadi and Mosul.

The association recorded that 6 Iraqi, Arabic and Foreign press teams escaped unquestionable death during their approach of carrying on coverage of war operations. The most eminent were members of BBC, Arabiya, Mayadeen, Sumeria, and Turkish Anadolu Agency.

Local and Arabic Media Offices Closed

• 16/3/2016: ministry of Interior forces stormed the office of AlBaghdadiya in Baghdad before closing it in a short time, escorting legal officers from Media and Communications Commission. The visiting group was provided with official papers issued by Safaa Aldin Rabii, Head of the Commission. The group informed the office that all Baghdadiya branches are to be closed in all parts of Iraq.
• 28/4/2016: Media and Communication Commission issued a closure warrant against Aljazira office in Baghdad. the channel obeyed the order and transferred all its assets to Erbil.
• 21/11/2016: Media and Communication Commission announced that activities of Sharq Alawsat be frozen in Iraq and its KRG office be closed on the background of its fake report entitled: UN warns rising illegal pregnancies in Karbala.

Journalists under fire in 2016:

• 2/1/2016: anonymous armed gangs threw a bomb on a house of KNN correspondent, Asu Ahmad in Tuz Khurmatou.
• 4/2/2016: killing threats by security and political sides targeted Diyala journalists.
• 9/2/2016: Turkmen Eli correspondent, Abdulqader Fuad escaped an abduction attempt by anonymous militants in front of his home in Wahed Adhar Avenue in Kirkuk.
• 16/2/2016: militants attacked KNN team in a school in the middle of Erbil during covering a protest in Erbil who were protesting against salary cuts.
• 22/3/2016: anonymous militants attacked a number of NRT members of staff during covering a festival held by the channel in Tashafy Land in Suleimaniya province.
• 4/4/2016: home of sport’s journalist Dhiyaa Hussein was attacked by anonymous militants by sound and fire bombs in Ubaidy area in southern Baghdad and investigation is still in process.
• 11/5/2016: Khundan E- News Agency correspondent, Firhenk Freidoun was threatened to be killed by KRG Salafi leader on the background of publishing facts about a suspicious relation between him and an ex married lady.
• 14/6/2016: militants from a certain group attacked the staff of Almada entertaining program -Hey let’s play!- in the middle of Baghdad.
• 25/6/2016: Rudaw Network residence in Erbil was attacked by grenades where two guards were injured.
• 7/8/2016: anonymous militants attacked the house of the journalist Amir Ali with sound bombs in Erkwazy Taza in Khaniqin East to Diyala.
• 28/9/2016: 13 press teams from 9 different media bodies were subjected to abuse, confinement, equipment confiscation, and coverage banning in KRG on the background of a number of protests that swept the region due to economic failure.

it is to be noted that all those incidents remain in lack of serious follow up and investigation. therefore, attacks are encouraged against the press family by militants and sides of power in the country.

Official and Security violations against Press

• 26/1/2016: Alaa Hussein correspondent of Alghadir Satellite Channel and Hashim AlUqabi, broadcasting engineer, sustained serious injuries due to SWAT forces attack, along with other colleagues , they were attacked on their way to Almiqdadiya for covering security situations there.
• 2/2/2016: Speda Kurdish satellite channel cadre was beaten and abused during their coverage of the protests of girls‘ dormitory in Erbil.
• 7/2/2016: PKK protestors in Erbil attacked Rudaw satellite team.
• 9/2/2016: Mazin Altayar, Alsharqiya correspondent in Basrah, was beaten, abused and humiliated by a security member of the province’s Divan, during his coverage of contract employed teaching staffs’ demonstration in the province.
• 16/2/2016: presenter of the program -Hascha online- Ammar Alwaili, who works for Afaq Satellite Channel, was subjected to nuisance by the eighth brigade of Federal Police.
• 16/2/2016: KNN team was beaten, and deprived its equipment by a security force in the province of Erbil. the incident took place during their coverage of a sit -down protest of the teaching cadres in the province.
• 21/2/2016: Rafidain Security force, attacked Alhurra media team during their setup for collecting the report on salt industry in one of its factories in Samawa.
• 29/2/2016: president Fuaad Maasoum’s body guards attacked Afaq satellite cameraman and they banned 15 other media personnel from entering the provincial building in Diwaniya.
• 5/3/2016: Rika satellite channel’s correspondent, Butan Najat was attacked by anonymous militants in the pedestrian- crowded Iskan street where they showered his car with bullets then beated him brutally and abused him.
• 23/4/2016: Alaa Kuly was abused and maltreated by a member of a powerful media body in the middle of Nasiriya, south of Iraq, for publishing ironic material concerning the status quo in Iraq.
• 2/5/2016: a force related to Brigade 65 which is responsible for protecting the IZ in Baghdad, attacked Huna Baghdad cadre while they were covering the event of protestors whom swept the Parliament building.
• 5/5/2016; a force from the Ministry of Interior attacked the correspondent of Samaraa satellite channel in Samawa as he was directed to report on an art gallery there.
• 6/5/2016: KNN cameraman, Karzan Kaka Resh, was attacked by being beaten and abused publically in the arena of Aljudy mosque in Erbil by a member of the security force during his coverage of the Friday statement of the scholar which is a traditional ritual in all mosques.
• 15/5/2016: Ms. Ziyar Mohammed , correspondent for the Voice of America, was publically beaten and abused in front in front of Behshet mosque in Sulaimaniya, by a member of the security force during her coverage of the Friday statement.
• 15/5/2016:Alhurra media staff was attacked by the security forces of Alshaab International Stadium in Baghdad, during the coverage of a football game which was part of the Iraqi excellence league. It is to be mentioned that the security force was related to the Federal Police.
• 20/5/2016: Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq observed the incident of storming the office of the PM where 14 correspondents were recorded to have been exposed to tear gas and rubber fire leading to cases of different degrees of suffocation and burns. Additionally, Muhammed Sarmad, correspondent for Huna Baghdad, was shot with live fire in the same incident.
• 27/5/2016: Almada cadre was attacked by a force related to Baghdad Operation command, in Saadoun Street as they were heading to cover the Tahrir Square demonstrations in the middle of Baghdad.
• 2/7/2016/ Yaarub Qahtan, correspondent for Dijla Satellite Channel was attacked by a force of the golden group (Althahabiya) and his equipment was confiscated.
• 6/8/2016: sons of Alubeid tribe beated a number of correspondents and cameramen in the conference of the Minister of Defense Khalid Alubaidi, and among the media personnel attacked were Ali Fadhil, cameraman of Rashid Channel, Najim Abdulzahra, Correspondent of AlHadath channel, and Wisam Albayati, correspondent for Turkmen Eli.
• 22/8/2016: Hasan Alshamari, correspondent for Alhadath international agency was abused and maltreated by low names and cursing by Hakim Abdulzahra, the Director General of the Communications and Media Department in Baghdad Municipality for tracking certain corruption files in the institution.
• 26/8/2016: Hussein Alamil, manager of Almada newspaper in Thi Qar, was threatened by “powerful parties in the province” for covering the sessions of protestors’ courts.
• 22/9/2016: Alhurra team, Istabraq Hasan (correspondent), Muhammed Almudhafar (cameraman) and Omar Hasan (assistant) were beaten and abused and all their equipment was destroyed by the security of the Central Bank Secretary, Ali Alallaq, during their coverage of the concert of Naseer Shamma in the National Theater.
• 27/9/2016: two media teams of independent NRT channel were beaten and their equipment destroyed by Erbil Security Forces. Ayaz Abdullah, correspondent in Erbil, and Dalshad Aziz, cameraman, were beaten by 15 security members.
• 8/10/2016: Sahar Abdulkarim Aloufi, a woman media worker was hit by the Manager of Alnahar channel, the media body that she serves.
• 1/11/2016: Saad Qusay, Alhurra correspondent in Basrah was exposed to a defaming and abusing campaign along with life threats by powerful individuals in the province via social media like Face Book, on the background of publishing a report on stealing equipment and vehicles from Basrah Military Airport.
• 1/11/2016: Mohammad Fadhil, Alghad TV correspondent was severely beaten by the presidential security troop in Baghdad.
• 30/11/2016: the release of a media team working for Kurdistan 24 after being abducted by militants in Libya.
• 6/12/2016: Hasan Alminshidawy, Alsharqiya News correspondent  was threatened by deputy chief (Qaimmaqam) of Alzubeir ; the threats included imprisonment and prohibiting him from exercising his job under the excuse that Alminshadawy is agitating people for holding demonstrations and protests. The correspondent added that similar threats were directed to him by the militants demanding him not to work in the district.

Journalists banned from duty

• 22/1/2016; Thiqaruna Newspaper was banned from entering the provincial council’s building on the background of its publishing an article exposing the council’s not fulfilling its promises of reform.
• 14/2/2016: Albaghdadiya cader was arrested by a security force in Babil, during its coverage of the protests that were taking place in BabAlhussein area.
• 14/2/2016: Alalam Aljadid was threatened to be concealed and its work obscured by the head of Media and Communications Commission ( MCC).
• 29/2/2016: South Oil Company (SOMO) security banned press from covering an event held by the Ministry of oil in Basrah.
• 26/4/2016: all press cadres were driven out of the press center in HOR by MPs security forces.
• 19/3/2016: forces from Ministry of Interior banned Asia, Furat, Alitijah, Alghadeer, Biladi, Albaghdadiya and correspondents of different news agencies from covering the protests that erupted in Diwaniya city.
• 26/3/2016: police banned press, satellite channels and news agencies from covering Diwaniya protests, excusing themselves that there is a directive from the MCC that forbids some media bodies from coverage inside the province.
• 7/4/2016: IZ security forces related to brigade 56 banned the cadre of Hewar Almada, that is broadcasted via Almada channel, from entering the residential area to interview an official.
• 11/4/2016: on the background of publishing corruption reports that show the involvement of the head of MCC , the journalist was fired from his work at Iraqi Media Network according to a recommendation issued by the aforementioned commission.
• 28/4/2016; a number of media personnel were violated by the parliament and their mobile phones were confiscated.
• 16/5/2016: security forces banned Huna Baghdad satellite channel from entering the site of Altaji factory after it was bombed by terrorists.
• 16/5/2016: Anas Yousif, correspondent for Huna Baghdad was banned along with accompanying team and vehicle (SNG) from entering Alsayidiya district to interview an MP.
• 9/6/2016: Thi Qar police banned Almerbid Radio and Alhurra satellite channel from covering Alnasiriya events after the accidental explosion that happened in Countering Explosives Department in the province and all equipment was seized.
• 7/7/2016: A force from Baghdad operations command banned NRT Arabic, from covering the event of scattering the protestors in Karrada in the middle of Baghdad.
• 24/8/2016: Kirkuk police Directorate issued a directive that stipulated; banning all press personnel from exercising their duties, and that they should not appear in the hot spots of terrorist actions and explosives or bombings. No material, being photo or video was permitted to be broadcasted by any media member of staff on social media highlighting that such actions would undermine the safety of the province’s police and provide terrorists with more information.
• 9/9/2016: 80% of the media cadres withdrew from Maysan Council where they were supposed to cover the conference of PM Haidar Alibady. The incident took place after a quarrel erupted between the PM’s body guards and the correspondent of Furat Satellite Channel who referred to being banned earlier from the PM’s press conference.
• 17/10/2016: Maitham Alamiri, correspondent, and Salam Atwan, cameraman of Alahad Satellite Channel, were attacked by members of the special force, brigade 56. They were beaten and their equipment destroyed. The incident took place as they were covering the explosion of the gas pipelines of Alsalhiya residential complex in the middle of Baghdad.
• 23/10/2016: Peshmerga Ministry in KRG banned all NRT delegations from covering Mosul liberation events. On the background of a statement released by a Kurdish MP, that was considered a humiliation to Peshmerga forces.
• 31/10/2016: Ali Adnan, Alrashid correspondent in Basra was banned from entering a press conference that was held in Basrah Police Headquarters by the receptionist for unclear reasons.
• 10/12/2016:The Company of Oil Projects in Basra banned all media bodies being Radio, satellite channels or news agencies ( except for Iraqi Media Network) from covering its conference that was held in the oil cultural center that discussed the details of the pipeline from Rumaila to Jordan.

Legislative environment; the real challenge

Lawsuits that have been filed against media personnel and journalists represent the highest risk concerning the press working environment in Iraq. Iraqi courts still abide to the legislature inherited from the past regime, especially the articles related to the crimes of publication, namely: 81-84, 180,182,201,211-215, 225-228, 403,433,434. All those are included in the Iraqi criminal law number 111for 1969 and which is still considered valid to hold press accountable.

Publication court recorded a shocking increase in the number of lawsuits filed against the media family and press workers in Iraq.

A rate that reached 200% if compared to the year 2014, and 100% leap if compared to the last year 2015. The total number of the filed lawsuits reached about 1327, from 12/1/2016-18/12/2016.

Detailed as follows:

• 972 investigation claims
• 182 offences
• 175 civil claim

The other thing is that the law known as “journalists’ rights” that was legislated by the parliament in August 2011 is actually a big challenge and a dire risk for press freedom in particular. Especially that this law depended upon 5 articles inherited from the dictatorship era.

On a related level, the bill on press freedom that is to be amended because of public rejection, and that has been frozen by the parliament is considered a grave violation to the Iraqi constitution and even the countries that are considered as dictator regimes did not witness similar legislations.

In November, 2015, the parliament held the second reading and prepared it for voting; the procedure in spite of appearing to be as a routine practice, but the Iraqi street stopped its pass.

It is to be noted that the Iraqi government and parliament did not reconsider the inherited legislative obstacles that were inherited passively which are as follows:

• Iraqi criminal law no. 111/ 1969.
• Publications law no. 206/ 1968.
• Ministry of Information law 2001.
• Censorship on itemized and cinema material no. 64/1973.
• Journalists syndicate law 1969.

In addition to the Coalition Provisional Authority law no.14/2003, concerning censorship in media and that grants   the PM the power to close down any media body and seize its equipment and assets and even gives him the authority to imprison its staff.

According to the aforementioned, it is clear that all those inherited laws and sets of regulations, enable the government not only to scrutinize and manipulate media bodies and their function but also to nationalize all media bodies and press publications. Especially that according to the inherited laws no private media bodies or press are allowed. And it is clearly stated that all media and press bodies are assets of the state.

Job security

Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq observed high numbers in salaries reductions, in different media and press bodies and for different job specifications. Whereas other bodies were just simply relieving their cadres from their jobs without prior notice or any compensations. All this goes along with lagging salary payment in most of these institutions and could reach several months.

Despite the fact that specifying these cases is quite difficult by providing figures and data, especially concerning those who were dismissed from their jobs, but as an overall estimation, dismissal in 2016 is lesser than the numbers in 2015. But remain large numbers.

From November 2015- November 2016, (reporting period) about 600 members of various press cadres were dismissed. Most of them are editors, correspondents, press photographers, broadcasters, and daily programs presenters.

4 media bodies joined the earlier closed ten bodies that were shut down in 2015; two of them were closed after issuing our first job security report last year. The association published the report in detail at the beginning of last November:

http://pfaa-iq.com/pfaaiq/1228

Press Freedom Advocacy Association’s stance

The association expects that aggressions and violations will be heightened at post-Mosul stage, according to security indicators. At the time that Iraq will witness new parliamentarian elections, and a political struggle that would paralyze a formation of the new government, this would also mean that parliament’s work would reach a standstill, and that of course would highly affect practicing any press activities in the country. Regarding to lagging press legislations, and not being in the situation that could deal with bad bills that are still lagging on the desks of the HOR, so no push would be expected for those laws or amendments lest the parliament enjoys a healthy structure which is directly reflected by politics.

This being said, we can imagine the magnitude of the challenges that the press should be ready to deal with and face in the near future.

After the disappointment that rapped up the meetings, appeals and requests held by the association with both the legislative and Executive authorities in Iraq, it calls on the international community to interfere for protecting journalists and the media bodies’ personnel in Iraq from expected risks. Especially that the international partners that worked with the Iraqi parliament on journalists’ rights remains intangible to the public, on its side, the association is setting to press on the legislative authority through all international partners and related NGOs to stop the ridicule of inherited outdated laws.

The Association pledges to continue its pursue for rallying support to change or delete those laws and to provide protection for the members of the press family against all kinds of violations due to the nature of their work as journalists and media workers and to provide job security to eliminate the practice of dismissing them without prior notice or due compensation.