.Iraqi journalists caught in political crossfire
BAGHDAD: Under Saddam Hussein, Iraqi journalists were threatened, detained, tortured and killed — victims of a system that tightly controlled what was written about the country's Baathist leader.
The destruction of the Information Ministry — one of the main instruments of Saddam-era censorship — during the US-led invasion to oust the Iraqi leader in March 2003 symbolically ended decades of zero press freedom.
But journalists' initial optimism that they would finally be able to report freely has been eroded. In today's democratic Iraq, they face many of the same dangers, as well as new threats.
Journalists are under intense pressure from political, ethnic and religious groups and there is a risk that interference could intensify as parties jostle for power during talks to form a new government. Reporters are also targeted by Sunni Arab insurgents and militias tied to political factions.
"Our journalists have been intimidated and harmed in many ways. They fear being killed, detained or dismissed if they criticise a party or even the government itself," said Moayad al-Lami, secretary general of the Iraqi Journalists Association.
Muntaha Al Qaisy, editor-in-chief and owner of Al Diyar newspaper in Baghdad, was targeted after she wrote about alleged random detentions by Interior Ministry forces — allegations the ministry denies.
"Two masked men visited my offices and told me to stop writing about it. They warned me that I was endangering my son and daughter," she said.
When Qaisy ignored the threat another man visited her home and gave her what he called a final warning. "I was totally afraid, not for myself, but for my children," said Qaisy, who has since shut down her newspaper.
Under Saddam, there were four official newspapers in Iraq. Today there are more than 160, showing the hunger for uncensored, independent news. But journalists say they increasingly find themselves caught in political crossfire.
Before, censorship was enforced by the Information Ministry. Now, there are many more players trying to control the news -insurgents, ethnic and political factions, and the government.
Along with the US-funded Iraqi Media Network, which owns Al Sabah newspaper and the public broadcaster Al Iraqiya – seen by many Iraqis as a mouthpiece for the government of Prime Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari — there are also the newspapers controlled by the various political factions.
The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Sciri), the most powerful party in the ruling Islamist Shi'ite Alliance, has Al Bayna daily as well as Al Forat television;
Jaafari's Dawa party has Al Dawa; and former prime minister Iyad Allawi has the daily Baghdad.
"There are huge pressures on Iraqi journalists from the parties' militias, which don't like being written about," said Satar Jabbar, editor-in-chief of New Bayna, another newspaper.
"The problem is how to be independent when there are these pressures. We can't stand up against any party in the government, or any powerful party, because we might be harmed or banned from working any more."
Iraq is the most dangerous place in the world for journalists. Since the March 2003 invasion, some 60 have been killed, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists media watchdog. More than 40 were Iraqi.
Sunni militants frequently target Iraqi journalists working for US-backed or other foreign news outlets. As a result, many have quit their work or take great precautions not to be identified with their employers.
The Peninsula
The destruction of the Information Ministry — one of the main instruments of Saddam-era censorship — during the US-led invasion to oust the Iraqi leader in March 2003 symbolically ended decades of zero press freedom.
But journalists' initial optimism that they would finally be able to report freely has been eroded. In today's democratic Iraq, they face many of the same dangers, as well as new threats.
Journalists are under intense pressure from political, ethnic and religious groups and there is a risk that interference could intensify as parties jostle for power during talks to form a new government. Reporters are also targeted by Sunni Arab insurgents and militias tied to political factions.
"Our journalists have been intimidated and harmed in many ways. They fear being killed, detained or dismissed if they criticise a party or even the government itself," said Moayad al-Lami, secretary general of the Iraqi Journalists Association.
Muntaha Al Qaisy, editor-in-chief and owner of Al Diyar newspaper in Baghdad, was targeted after she wrote about alleged random detentions by Interior Ministry forces — allegations the ministry denies.
"Two masked men visited my offices and told me to stop writing about it. They warned me that I was endangering my son and daughter," she said.
When Qaisy ignored the threat another man visited her home and gave her what he called a final warning. "I was totally afraid, not for myself, but for my children," said Qaisy, who has since shut down her newspaper.
Under Saddam, there were four official newspapers in Iraq. Today there are more than 160, showing the hunger for uncensored, independent news. But journalists say they increasingly find themselves caught in political crossfire.
Before, censorship was enforced by the Information Ministry. Now, there are many more players trying to control the news -insurgents, ethnic and political factions, and the government.
Along with the US-funded Iraqi Media Network, which owns Al Sabah newspaper and the public broadcaster Al Iraqiya – seen by many Iraqis as a mouthpiece for the government of Prime Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari — there are also the newspapers controlled by the various political factions.
The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Sciri), the most powerful party in the ruling Islamist Shi'ite Alliance, has Al Bayna daily as well as Al Forat television;
Jaafari's Dawa party has Al Dawa; and former prime minister Iyad Allawi has the daily Baghdad.
"There are huge pressures on Iraqi journalists from the parties' militias, which don't like being written about," said Satar Jabbar, editor-in-chief of New Bayna, another newspaper.
"The problem is how to be independent when there are these pressures. We can't stand up against any party in the government, or any powerful party, because we might be harmed or banned from working any more."
Iraq is the most dangerous place in the world for journalists. Since the March 2003 invasion, some 60 have been killed, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists media watchdog. More than 40 were Iraqi.
Sunni militants frequently target Iraqi journalists working for US-backed or other foreign news outlets. As a result, many have quit their work or take great precautions not to be identified with their employers.
The Peninsula
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