Medical and Hospital News  
IRAQ WARS
Iraqis mourn reporters killed covering protests; as 1000s protest all outsiders
by Staff Writers
Basra, Iraq (AFP) Jan 11, 2020

Hundreds of Iraqis on Saturday mourned two reporters shot dead the previous evening in the country's southern city of Basra, where they had been covering months of anti-government protests.

Ahmad Abdessamad, a 37-year-old correspondent for local television station Al-Dijla, and his cameraman Safaa Ghali, 26, were killed late Friday, the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory (JFO) said.

Hundreds marched through the streets of Basra carrying symbolic coffins, their pictures and Iraqi flags.

One mourner told AFP: "What happened was an attempt to scare people. But now, everyone in Basra has come out to mourn Ahmad and his colleague Safaa. It was clearly an attempt to silence people."

The two reporters were in a car near a police station in Basra when armed men in a 4x4 approached them and opened fire.

"Armed men attacked them and sprayed them with bullets on Friday night, which killed Abdessamad. His cameraman was taken to the city hospital, where he died," the JFO said in a statement.

It said that two weeks before he died, Abdessamad had sent the JFO video testimony about "threats he received from militias because of his criticism of Iran in his coverage."

Demonstrations erupted in October in Iraq's capital and across its Shiite-majority south, railing against government graft and a lack of jobs.

The protests have also slammed neighbouring Iran for economic and political overreach in Iraq and for propping up a ruling class reviled by demonstrators.

As the protests drag on, activists have complained of a growing campaign of intimidation, including assassinations, kidnappings and threats, meant to keep them from the rallies.

Around a dozen activists have been shot dead and are among the more than 460 people killed in protest-related violence since October.

The rallies had been overshadowed in recent weeks by rising tensions between the US and Iran but protesters revived them on Friday, including in Basra, where some demonstrators were arrested.

The Iraqi Journalists' Union demanded Basra's police conclude a speedy investigation so that "the criminals be brought to justice".

The Committee to Protect Journalists, meanwhile, condemned the killing and urged Iraqi authorities to do more to protect reporters covering the movement.

"No journalist should have to fear for their safety or be singled out for attack over their coverage of protests," said the CPJ's regional representative Ignacio Miguel Delgado.


Related Links
Iraq: The first technology war of the 21st century


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


IRAQ WARS
US rejects Iraq request to discuss troop withdrawal
Washington (AFP) Jan 10, 2020
The United States on Friday rejected a request by Iraq to start talks on pulling out its 5,200 troops, notching up the discord after Washington killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad. Angry at an attack seen as violating Iraqi sovereignty and enmeshing the country again in war, Iraq's caretaker prime minister asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo late Thursday to send a delegation to begin withdrawal arrangements. The State Department said it was ready for "a conversation" - but not about remov ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

IRAQ WARS
Myanmar's Suu Kyi visits China border state as Xi visit looms

Navy brings emergency beer to fire-hit Aussie town

Study shows animal life thriving around Fukushima

Ten years after deadly Haiti quake, survivors feel forgotten

IRAQ WARS
China Focus: China to complete Beidou-3 satellite system in 2020

China's Beidou navigation system to provide unique services

From airport approaches to eCall in cars in 10 years with EGNOS

Satnav watching over rugby players

IRAQ WARS
The growing pains of orphan chimpanzees

Early modern humans cooked starchy food in South Africa, 170,000 years ago

Humans were making tools out of stone more than 1 million years ago

Territorial conflicts suppress female chimpanzees' reproductive success

IRAQ WARS
Species-saving Galapagos giant tortoise Diego can take a rest

Makeshift koala hospital scrambles to save dozens injured in bushfires

Snipers to cull up to 10,000 camels in drought-stricken Australia

Researchers united on international road map to insect recovery

IRAQ WARS
China reports first death from mystery pneumonia outbreak

China believes new virus behind mystery pneumonia outbreak

China believes new virus behind mystery pneumonia outbreak

Bacterial evolution of antibiotic weapons promises new insights for drug makers

IRAQ WARS
Ex-UK consulate staffer cuts ties with HK family to avoid 'harassment'

Protest-hit Hong Kong sees surge in depression, PTSD: study

Curtain falls on Chinese film festival as censorship intensifies

Indonesia deploys fighter jets, warships to disputed waters in China spat

IRAQ WARS
Bolsonaro pardons Brazil security forces convicted of unintentional crimes

IRAQ WARS








The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.