Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05GENEVA2442
2005-10-12 06:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
US Mission Geneva
Cable title:  

COMMUNICATION FROM SR ON FREEDOM OF OPINION

Tags:  PHUM 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GENEVA 002442 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/SHA, DRL/MLA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM
SUBJECT: COMMUNICATION FROM SR ON FREEDOM OF OPINION
REGARDING THREE IRAQI JOURNALISTS


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GENEVA 002442

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/SHA, DRL/MLA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM
SUBJECT: COMMUNICATION FROM SR ON FREEDOM OF OPINION
REGARDING THREE IRAQI JOURNALISTS



1. Mission received the following communication from Ambeyi
Ligabo, Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection
of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, regarding
three Iraqi journalists found dead in Iraq. There is
concern that these journalists may have been targeted
because of their work. This communication has been
forwarded to IO/SHA via e-mail and is number 35 on the
Geneva 2005 Communications Log.


2. Begin text of letter:

REFERENCE: AL G/SO 214 (67-13)
USA 14/2005

27 September 2005

Excellency,

I have the honour to address you in my capacity as Special
Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to
freedom of opinion and expression pursuant to Commission on
Human Rights resolution 2002/48.

In this connection, I should like to bring to your
Government's attention - as well as to the attention of the
Government of Iraq, which I am also addressing on this
matter - information I have received concerning Iraqi
citizen Firas Maadidi, 40, chief of the Mosul bureau for the
newspaper As-Saffir and chief editor of the local daily Al-
Masar.

According to information received, on Tuesday 20 September
2005 in the al-Noor neighbourhood of Slayhe Jowiree in
Mosul, Mr. Maadidi was killed outside his home by
unidentified gunmen. He was immediately taken to hospital
where he died four hours later. The death of Mr. Maadidi
brings to three the number of journalists killed in Iraq in
the last four days, two of whom were both affiliated with
the newspaper As-Saffir. As-Saffir, which is based in
Baghdad, has a strong pro-democracy editorial position and
is running a campaign to educate Iraqis on the importance of
the new constitution and the upcoming general elections. It
is also critical of insurgent attacks against Iraqi
civilians, calling them terrorist operations.

On Saturday 17 September 2005, Ms. Hind Ismail, a 28-year-
old reporter for As-Saffir, was killed in Mosul's southern
suburb of al-Muthana. Her body was found with a single
bullet wound to the head. Fakher Haider, an Iraqi journalist
who worked for The New York Times, was abducted last Sunday
18 September 2005 from his home in Basra. His body was found
on Monday in Basra's southwestern al-Kiblah neighborhood
with at least one gunshot to the head and his hands tied
behind his back.

Concern is expressed that the three journalists were
targeted because of their work.

Without in any way making any determination on the facts and
circumstances of this case, I should like to appeal to your
Excellency's Government to take all necessary steps to
secure the right to freedom of opinion and expression of the
above mentioned person, in accordance with fundamental
principles as set forth in article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and reiterated in article 19 of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
which provide that "Everyone has the right to freedom of
opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold
opinions without interference and to seek, receive and
impart information and ideas through any media and
regardless of frontiers".

Moreover, I would also like to call your Excellency's
attention to Resolution 2005/38 of the Commission on Human
Rights which called upon states to ensure that victims of
violations of the rights have an effective remedy, to
investigate effectively threats and acts of violence,
including terrorist acts, against journalists, including in
situations of armed conflict, and to bring to justice those
responsible to combat impunity.

Moreover, it is my responsibility under the mandate provided
to me by the Commission on Human Rights and reinforced by
the appropriate resolutions of the General Assembly, to seek
to clarify all cases brought to my attention. Since I am
expected to report on these cases to the Commission, I would
be grateful for your cooperation and your observations on
the following matters:


1. Are the facts alleged in the above summary of the case
accurate?


2. Please provide the details, and where available the
results, of any investigation, medical examinations, and
judicial or other inquiries that may have been carried out
in relation to the killing of the three journalists, both by
your Excellency's Government and by the Iraqi authorities,
insofar as you are aware of such inquiries. Have penal,
disciplinary or administrative sanctions been imposed in
connection with this incident? If your Government has not
undertaken any inquiries in this matter or if they have been
inconclusive, please explain why.
I would appreciate a response by sixty days. I undertake to
ensure that your Government's response to each of these
questions is accurately reflected in the report I will
submit to the Commission on Human Rights for its
consideration.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest
consideration.

Ambeyi Ligabo
Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the
right to freedom of opinion and expression

End text of letter.

MOLEY