Press Release: CPJ condemns murder of Iraqi journalists

Committee to Protect Journalists
330 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001 USA
Phone: (212) 465­1004
Fax: (212) 465­9568
Web: www.cpj.org
E-Mail: media@cpj.org

http://www.cpj.org
Contact: Abi Wright
e-mail: info@cpj.org
Telephone: (212) 465-1004 x-105

IRAQ: CPJ condemns murder of Iraqi journalist


New York, January 12, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalist issued the following statement condemning the murder of an Iraqi journalist today in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Khudr Younis al-Obaidi, a reporter for Al-Diwan newspaper, was killed by several gunmen in a car while he was walking on the street this afternoon, The Associated Press reported. CPJ is investigating the circumstances surrounding al-Obaidi’s death.


“We condemn the murder of our colleague Khudr Younis al-Obaidi and offer our condolences to his family,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “Two Iraqi journalists have already been murdered in the first two weeks of the year, underscoring the terrible risks local journalists are facing and establishing once again that Iraq is the most dangerous assignment for journalists in the world. Authorities must do more to bring those responsible to justice, or journalists will remain vulnerable to attacks.”


At least 93 journalists and 37 media support staffers have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, making Iraq the deadliest conflict for the press in recent history.

Insurgents are responsible for the bulk of media deaths. For more details, see:

http://www.cpj.org/Briefings/Iraq/Iraq_danger.html.

CPJ is a New York–based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information, visit www.cpj.org.