The IFJ mourns the killing of two journalists in Iraq

February 2, 2015

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its regional affiliate the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate (IJS) have today condemned the killing of the Iraqi photographer Adnan Abdul Razzaq, allegedly murdered by the Islamic State (IS) in Mosul, and the reporter Ali Ansari, fatally hit last Friday while covering the battles between the Iraqi army and the IS in Mykdadyah, north of Baghdad.

According to media reports, photographer Abdul Razzaq working for Sama Mosul channel was allegedly shot dead in Mosul by the IS last weekend.

Ansari was killed last January 23rd when he was caught in a crossfire between the Iraqi army and the IS that took place in Mykdadyah, North East of Baquba, in Diyali province. Two other media workers were wounded in the attack – journalist Mustafa Hamid and the cameraman Qusay Sahib, both from Iraqiya state television.

In presenting the IJS’s condolences to Ansari's family and friends, IJS president Moaiad Al Lamy said, "The IJS urges all journalists working in the country to exercise maximum caution while performing their professional duty."

"The escalation of violence that has now hit the Middle East is getting unbearable," added IFJ's president Jim Boumelha. "The International Federation of Journalists is putting a considerable effort to support its member unions in the region to protect their journalists, We extend our condolences to these killed journalists' family and friends. This latest outrage underlines the massive efforts needed to create the best conditions for the journalists so they can do safely their daily job. "

Ali Ansari is the first journalist killed in Iraq in 2015 and the second one in the Middle East, after the killing of reporters Khalid Mohammed al-Washli in Yemen in the past weeks. In 2014 8 journalists were killed in Iraq. See IFJ's Safety site.

Iraq remains as one of the world' most dangerous countries and the Middle East the second most dangerous region with 31 casualties of media workers in 2014. The IFJ has been implementing a major safety training programme in the region in recent years and continues to provide training in Iraq.

For more information on the regional programme and safety guidelines, visit our Arabic website and download the Safety Handbook for journalists in the Arab World and the Middle East.

For more information contact:
IFJ
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
Phone: + 32 2 235 22 17
Email: ifj@ifj.org
Website: www.ifj.org