US embassy cable - 05GENEVA2442

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GENEVA 002442 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/SHA, DRL/MLA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, Human Rights 
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