Death of state media journalist sparks controversy in Iraq
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Baghdad's al-Rusafa Police Command on Wednesday stated that the controversial killing of Iraqi journalist Laith Mohammed Ridha in broad daylight was the result of a personal dispute, not an assassination.
"While we extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased, we clarify that the incident was not an assassination but rather the outcome of a dispute between the journalist Laith Mohammed Ridha and his neighbors," the Police Command of Baghdad's central district of Rusafa noted.
The clarification followed reports from local Iraqi media that Ridha, a renowned journalist with the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), had been assassinated by a bodyguard of an Iraqi official in Rusafa's Arasat neighbourhood. The reports suggested that the dispute started over the speed of a vehicle and escalated when the guard carelessly shot the journalist.
The Rusafa Police Command added that "security forces are currently conducting intensive search and inspection operations to apprehend the perpetrator," and emphasized 'the importance of relying on official sources of information to avoid disseminating inaccurate news.'
CCTV footage obtained by Rudaw, showed an initial altercation between Ridha and another individual that escalated into a fistfight. The assailant then retrieved a handgun from a plateless black SUV and fired multiple shots at Ridha killing him.
For its part, the INA mourned 'the martyrdom' of Ridha who passed away in a 'tragic shooting incident' and urged authorities to take swift action against this "cowardly criminal act" and 'bring those responsible to justice.'
The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) warned in November that journalists in Iraq live in a constant state of fear and anxiety due to the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators who commit violations against press workers.
IOHR highlighted that in the past two decades or so, since the 2003 toppling of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, over 475 journalists and media workers have been killed, with perpetrators held accountable in only two or three cases. This has placed Iraq among the most dangerous countries for journalists, according to the human rights watchdog.
According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, Iraq's press freedom ranking has declined in recent years, currently standing at 169th out of 180 countries, after it stood at 167 in 2023. These rankings also highlight the significant challenges to press freedom in the country.
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