Understanding
Press Freedom
in Iraq
Kelsey Knutson and Molly Bausher
Comm. 439
Under Saddam Hussein’s regime, his
authoritarian model flourished.
Journalists were conveyors of party propaganda and
used to being given information to report on. If they
wanted to report on something else, they needed
government permission.
News stories do not challenge existing leadership. If a
journalist wrote a story that did they could face life in
prison, torture, and death.
In contrast, journalists that met and exceeded
expectations received money, cars and land
No foreign publications from 1970-1981.
―Journalists can
expect to have their
phones tapped,
their movements
watched, and their
stories closely
monitored‖.
News outlets proliferated.
Free press became a part of the Constitution
as long as the public order is not
compromised.
However, several groups still want to monitor
news flow to benefit themselves.
◦ Ex. Iraqi leaders, police, U.S. coalition forces,
terrorists
―The bullet has become the ultimate censor; there is
no banning or proscribing—you just get killed or
kidnapped instead‖ (Mourwaffaq Al Rifa’I, Iraqi journalist, 2009)
Reporters Without Borders refers to the
current dangers journalists encounter in
Iraq as ―the bloodiest for the media since
World War II‖
225 journalists and media assistants killed
since the start of fighting in Iraq
(Compared to 63 during the 20 years of the
Vietnam War).
•Iraq ranks 158th out of 173 on the
Press Freedom Index (Reporters without
Border’s 2008 Report)
The majority of journalists are killed by
gunfire and there is often a lack of
investigation of their murders and
kidnappings leaving many of the crimes to go
unpunished.
◦ Iraq is ranked #1 on the Committee to Protect
Journalists Impunity Index which compares the
number of unsolved journalist murders with the
total population.
◦ The deaths are usually deliberate and not a
consequence of uncontrollable war conditions.
It will be interesting to ―It is rare that
see what happens to the kidnappers demand
press situation in Iraq ransom for those taken,
when the U.S pulls out. implying that the motive
The majority of behind these
journalists killed are not abductions is to silence
foreign journalists but a critical or investigative
Iraqi journalists. voice‖ (The World Press
Freedom Review, 2007).
Sami al-Hajj
Al-Jazeera cameraman
Husband and father of a son
Prisoner of war for six and a half years
Sami al-Hajj
Capture
◦ Captured by Pakistani intelligence at Pakistani
Chaman border into Afghanistan on Dec. 15, 2001
◦ Passport number listed on letter is that of the
passport he lost 2 years prior in Sudan; he had a
valid visa
◦ Allegedly having many links to al-Qaeda,
supporting terrorism, entering Afghanistan illegally
in Oct. 2001, and that he interviewed Osama Bin
Laden
◦ Transported to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba camp
Sami al-Hajj
―In Guantanamo
Imprisonment …rats are treated
◦ Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with more
prisoner of war camp; humanity‖ – Sami al-
U.S. Naval Base Hajj after being released
◦ Sexually harassed and returning back to
◦ Went on hunger strike; home country of Sudan
force-fed
(Committee to Protect
◦ Religion was insulted
Journalists)
◦ Never given right to a
trial
◦ Al Jazeera the only
network that reported on
al-Hajj’s story during
imprisonment
Sami-al Hajj
Release
◦ Released without charge May 1, 2008
◦ Footage shows him being taken to a hospital on a
stretcher looking frail just after his release
◦ Other countries outside of the Arab World countries
are finally informed of al-Hajj’s story
◦ Is to receive an international press freedom award
International Press Freedom
International press freedom is reinforced
through Sami al-Hajj’s story
If more were informed of al-Hajj’s story
before his actual release, he could have
possibly been released much earlier; also
could have been given the right to a trial