Kelsey Knutson and Molly Bausher

Comm. 439

Understanding Press Freedom

in Iraq

Under Saddam Hussein’s regime, his authoritarian model flourished.

Journalists were conveyors of party propaganda and used to being given information to report on. If they wanted to report on something else, they needed government permission.

News stories do not challenge existing leadership. If a journalist wrote a story that did they could face life in prison, torture, and death.

In contrast, journalists that met and exceeded expectations received money, cars and land

No foreign publications from 1970-1981.

“Journalists can expect to have their phones tapped, their movements watched, and their stories closely monitored”.

News outlets proliferated. Free press became a part of the

Constitution as long as the public order is not compromised.

However, several groups still want to monitor news flow to benefit themselves.◦ Ex. Iraqi leaders, police, U.S. coalition forces,

terrorists

“The bullet has become the ultimate censor; there is no banning or proscribing—you just get killed or kidnapped instead” (Mourwaffaq Al

Rifa’I, Iraqi journalist, 2009)

Reporters Without Borders refers to the current dangers journalists encounter in Iraq as “the bloodiest for the media since World War II”

225 journalists and media assistants killed since the start of fighting in Iraq (Compared to 63 during the 20 years of the Vietnam War).

•Iraq ranks 158th out of 173 on the Press Freedom Index (Reporters without

Border’s 2008 Report)

The majority of journalists are killed by gunfire and there is often a lack of investigation of their murders and kidnappings leaving many of the crimes to go unpunished.◦ Iraq is ranked #1 on the Committee to Protect

Journalists Impunity Index which compares the number of unsolved journalist murders with the total population.

◦ The deaths are usually deliberate and not a consequence of uncontrollable war conditions.

It will be interesting to see what happens to the press situation in Iraq when the U.S pulls out. The majority of journalists killed are not foreign journalists but Iraqi journalists.

“It is rare that kidnappers demand ransom for those taken, implying that the motive behind these abductions is to silence a critical or investigative voice” (The World Press Freedom Review, 2007).

Al-Jazeera cameraman Husband and father of a son Prisoner of war for six and a half years

Sami al-HajjSami al-Hajj

Capture◦ Captured by Pakistani intelligence at Pakistani

Chaman border into Afghanistan on Dec. 15, 2001◦ Passport number listed on letter is that of the

passport he lost 2 years prior in Sudan; he had a valid visa

◦ Allegedly having many links to al-Qaeda, supporting terrorism, entering Afghanistan illegally in Oct. 2001, and that he interviewed Osama Bin Laden

◦ Transported to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba camp

Sami al-HajjSami al-Hajj

Imprisonment◦ Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

prisoner of war camp; U.S. Naval Base

◦ Sexually harassed◦ Went on hunger strike;

force-fed◦ Religion was insulted◦ Never given right to a

trial◦ Al Jazeera the only

network that reported on al-Hajj’s story during imprisonment

“In Guantanamo …rats are treated with more humanity” – Sami al-Hajj after being released and returning back to home country of Sudan (Committee to Protect Journalists)

Sami al-HajjSami al-Hajj

Release◦ Released without charge May 1, 2008◦ Footage shows him being taken to a hospital on a

stretcher looking frail just after his release◦ Other countries outside of the Arab World

countries are finally informed of al-Hajj’s story◦ Is to receive an international press freedom award

Sami-al HajjSami-al Hajj

International press freedom is reinforced through Sami al-Hajj’s story

If more were informed of al-Hajj’s story before his actual release, he could have possibly been released much earlier; also could have been given the right to a trial

International Press International Press FreedomFreedom