The Iraqi Journalist Rights Defense Association (IJRDA), in cooperation with IREX’s Strengthening Independent Media in Iraq (SIMI) [6] program, published its annual report, Violations of Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Expression in Iraq for 2007, on violations against Iraqi journalists. According to the data for 2007, 54 journalists were assassinated, 31 were arrested, 10 were abducted, and 10 media outlets raided.
IJRDA called for media law reforms and action from the government and media community to ensure the rights of journalists are upheld. IJRDA itself is supporting journalists through its Legal Advocacy Program (LAP), supported by IREX. The LAP program is creating a cadre of legal experts to support freedom of expression in Iraq, including the provision of expert legal representation for Iraqi journalists brought to trial for their professional work. IJRDA, established in 2004, is an independent nongovernmental organization (NGO) specializing in freedoms of expression and providing legal aid for Iraqi journalists. It is headquartered in Baghdad, but has 10 offices throughout Iraq.
A recent case IJRDA took up concerned the case of a journalist charged with “conveying false information” in a story about the Iraqi Public Integrity Commission. The association supported the reporter’s legal defense and the case was thrown out for lack of evidence. Vigorous defense of such cases is necessary as government, party, and business officials can frequently resort to court cases to silence journalism they do not like. By vigorously defending such cases, the journalist community knows it can be more courageous and need not engage in self-censorship. Additionally, the very act of arguing cases in court serves to educate the judiciary on the proper application of laws that can be abused to silence journalists.
The SIMI project supports Iraqi media outlets, journalists, media managers, and free-press advocates in their efforts to build a sustainable and professional media system as they struggle against the hardships of operating in Iraq. The project is supported by a grant from the US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
