Journalists call for stopping political disputes

Journalists call for stopping political disputes and paying attention to citizens



16/06/2012 18:43

SALAHADDIN, June 16 (AKnews) - A number of Iraqi journalists
chose to celebrate Press Day by delivering a message to the government
that indicates that all Iraqi people are living in danger, especially
journalists, calling on authorities to stop their conflicts and quotas
and pay attention to the Iraqis.

Iraq
is among five of most dangerous countries in the world for journalists
where daily killings taking place in the country do not exclude workers
in media organizations. This prompted a number of journalists to demand
decision makers to develop a solution and stop the killing of
journalists in Iraq.

Ahed TV reporter in Salahaddin
province Khamis al-Khazraji said: "I wrote my will like the rest of the
Iraqis because I do not know what my fate will be in a country that
assassinates people, without exception," blaming government authorities
for being careless in giving rights for journalists.

"I call on
all government officials to refrain from conflicts and quotas, and think
seriously to protect Iraqis and protect journalists and keep their
rights," calling on all journalists to continue their work to serve the
nation and spread the concepts of fraternity

According to US newspaper Christian Science Monitor,
6 out of 145 journalists have been deliberately killed in Iraq since
1992, adding that 89 journalists were deliberately killed in Iraq after
the US invasion in 2003, and 50 others were killed in clashes.

Salahaddin
province has witnessed the killing of two journalists since the
beginning of 2012 while a number of others have faced assassination
attempts in addition to attacks against them by anonymous people and
security forces.

Al-Masar al-Uola TV correspondent
Wissam al-Dujaili said: "I call on everyone to seek to stop the
bloodshed in Iraq, and the government must give journalists their rights
and prevent abuse and preserve their dignity in their lives before
their death.

"Despite the ratification of journalists' rights law
in the Iraqi Council of Representatives, its provisions were not
applied and no positive changes were seen."

Fayhaa Iraqi
channel correspondent Ahmed Hamdani called on security authorities to
deal well with journalists because they represent the law, adding: "But
some of them deal with them as the armed groups do. Iraqi MPs legally
approved the rights of journalists, but this law increased the
complexities.

"Most journalists and professionals did not have
plots of land which is a guarantee for journalists in their lives and
for their families after their death so we hope to get them."

Iraq,
in addition to Iran, China, Mexico and Russia, celebrates on June 15
each year Press Day which is also the anniversary of the publication of
the first Iraqi newspaper al-Zowra 143 years ago.

By Othman al-Shalash

RN/DM/AKnews

http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/3/312596/