Iraq
Since the fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraq witnessed an incredible upsurge in new media outlets as restrictions on the media were dramatically reduced. At the same time, however, financial sustainability combined with polarization in society as well as the difficult security situation throughout the country pose serious challenges to the media causing many to close down. IMS activities include support to strengthen the development of independent media in Iraq.Archive
- Investigative journalism a perilous business in Iraq
- Media support organisations come together in Iraq
- Iraq: Connecting bloggers with traditional media
- Hotline for journalists opens in Iraq
- Challenges of media in Iraq deeply rooted in society, says Iraqi editor
- Bloggers in Iraq: "Blogging is a way to breathe"
- Iraqi bloggers come together in Sulimanyah
- Journalists under continued threat in Iraqi Kurdistan
- Iraqi journalist wins award for best investigation
- Female journalists fight for press freedom in Iraq
- Media programme in Iraq set to continue for next two and a half years
- IMS partner killed in Baghdad
- A network of social media activists in Iraq
- IMS strengthens media programme in Iraq
- Media unsettled by demonstrations in Iraq
- Need for watchdog journalism in Iraq
- Landmark agreement between Iraqi newspapers
- Democracy stutters in Iraq
- Iraqi media conference breaks isolation
- Danish journalists visit Iraq
- Booming media sector defy security challenges
IMS partner killed in Baghdad
 |
Radio talk show host and long-time IMS partner Hadi al-Mahdi was killed in Baghdad on 8 September
Al-Mahdi who was an outspoken critic of the government, was shot and killed in his home in Baghdad, AFP reported on September 9.
Apart from his popular radio show "To Whoever Listens" Hadi al-Mahdi also worked with the long-time Iraqi partner of IMS, Society for Defending Press Freedom on monitoring the Iraqi media's coverage of human rights defenders and attacks targeting them.
- "The ruthless killing of Hadi al-Mahdi highlights how extremely dangerous Iraq is for journalists", says Osama Al-Habahbeh, IMS' Programme Manager for Iraq. "We will continue to work for the safety and professionalisation of the remaining media and journalists who defy the daily perils of carrying out their duties as independent professionals."
The killing garnered widespread coverage in many news-outlets with the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemning the murder and announcing an investigation to determine whether the death was related to al-Mahdi's work as a journalist. Society for Defending Press Freedom also called for a neutral committee to investigate the killing.
On his radio show "To Whoever Listens" on the independent Radio Demozy, Al-Mahdi covered social and political issues including government corruption and bribery.
According to The Washington Post Al-Mahdi was organising a pro-democracy protest scheduled to take place on Friday, the day after he was killed.
IMS has been actively supporting independent Iraqi media since 2005 by strengthening the professional skills of Iraqi journalists and providing guidelines on safety measures.
Join IMS on facebook