Reporters face violence as Iraq cracks down on media dissent
November 5, 2009 - Iraqis are fearing a renewed crackdown on dissent as a crucial national poll draws near, with several journalists claiming to have been beaten by security forces and ministers issuing warnings about media coverage. Iraq's communications minister, Faruq Abd Al-Qadir, has introduced a $5,000 (£3,000) licence fee for all broadcast media outlets and ordered the staff of the 58 media and television stations operating in the country to apply for work permits. Observers say the move appears to have been prompted by official anger at recent coverage of a string of devastating bomb attacks on government ministries, which caused about 250 deaths and seriously eroded the government's security credentials...
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Reporters face violence as Iraq cracks down on media dissent
Martin Chulov in Baghdad
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Baghdad: Iraqi journalists take part in a protest for the freedom of speech. Photograph: Muhannad Fala'ah/Getty Images
November 5, 2009
Iraqis are fearing a renewed crackdown on dissent as a crucial national poll draws near, with several journalists claiming to have been beaten by security forces and ministers issuing warnings about media coverage.
Iraq's communications minister, Faruq Abd Al-Qadir, has introduced a $5,000 (£3,000) licence fee for all broadcast media outlets and ordered the staff of the 58 media and television stations operating in the country to apply for work permits.
Observers say the move appears to have been prompted by official anger at recent coverage of a string of devastating bomb attacks on government ministries, which caused about 250 deaths and seriously eroded the government's security credentials.
The fallout from the attacks is widely thought to have damaged the re-election hopes of the prime minister, Nour al-Maliki, and his ministers. They fear they could lose their jobs after the 16 January general election.
The new rules come after a summer crackdown on internet access in which communications authorities warned service providers and internet cafes they would to block access to websites deemed to be offensive.
Iraqi officials have characterised the moves as the dawn of a new regulatory environment that encourages fair reporting and protects community standards. But the tighter controls have also been interpreted as evidence of a creeping police state, in which some hard-won freedoms of the last six years are being rolled back.
Three journalists this week reported having been beaten by soldiers while covering routine security stories.
Mohammed Jabar, 23, who reports for the official National Iraqi News Agency, said he was set upon on Wednesday at the site of a small explosion in Mahmoudiyah, south of Baghdad. "As soon as I arrived at the scene, they attacked me with the butts of their rifles," he said from his hospital bed. "They saw I had all the right badges and knew I was entitled to be there. They beat me till I was unconscious. I am sure they didn't behave like this on their own. It's obvious they have orders to block any coverage of explosions."
Kamal Ayash, from the al-Samaria TV channel, claims to have been threatened by soldiers as he tried to cover an explosion in Ramadi, west of Baghdad.
Earlier this week, Iraq's interior ministry ordered all government ministers and departments to permanently boycott the staunchly anti-administration al-Sharqiya satellite channel. Al-Baghdadia channel, the former workplace of Iraqi shoe thrower, Munthader al-Zaidi, says it is also having problems getting access to government events and announcements.
At least 147 people were killed last month when suicide bombers destroyed the justice ministry and heavily damaged the governate of Baghdad. More than 100 people were killed and 500 wounded when six bombs exploded near the foreign and finance ministries in August, ripping through scores of homes.
Ministers have been determined to limit the impact of the violence on January's hotly-contested poll, insisting that a semblance of order has been returned to Iraq.
Several senior ministers denied yesterday that the new laws were an attempt to avert negative coverage. Government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, said: "If media outlets want to complain, they can do so to the relevant communications authorities."
With the exception of state-run outlets, news reports in recent weeks have been sharply critical of the government's claims to have restored security throughout the country after the ravages of war and insurgency.
One minister said: "Some of the coverage has been particularly irresponsible and has given comfort and support to the wicked groups that are trying to do this country harm.
"Political dissent is something that is welcome in this society now, unlike under Saddam Hussein, but media freedoms need checks and balances."Mukhlid Fadel, the marketing manager of the Itisaluna Internet company in Baghdad said the government had advised the company of an imminent crackdown on access to some websites.
"This represents a narrowing of freedoms," he said. "The internet has become everything to Iraqis, who see it as their window to the world. There are no cinemas here, no cultural clubs and plenty of spare time. This could become a police state again."
Meanwhile, Iraq's deeply-divided arliament said it would pass an electoral law this weekend to allow the January poll to take place. The issue ofHow to deal with the disputed province of Kirkuk has remained an intractable issue throughout months of negotiations. However, lawmakers now claim to have reached a resolution.
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:: Article nr. 59778 sent on 06-nov-2009 01:26 ECT
www.uruknet.info?p=59778
Link: www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/05/iraq-government-warn-media
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