Accused killer of two Iraqi journalists handed death sentence

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Iraqi court on Monday handed a death sentence to a man accused of killing a TV crew during the nationwide anti-government protests that broke out across Iraq in late 2019. Dozens of activists and journalists were murdered in the protests.

The Criminal Court of Basra issued a death sentence for the alleged killer of journalist Ahmad Abd al-Samad and photographer Safaa Ghali, reported state media.

Dijlah reporter Samad and his cameraman Ghali were shot dead whilst covering the Tishreen (October) protests in the southern port city of Basra last year.

Protests broke out in central and southern Iraq in late 2019, calling for an end to corruption, unemployment, and the provision of basic services. Since then, journalists and activists have been a target of militias and armed forces that operate with impunity.

One hundred and ninety journalists have been killed in Iraq between 1992 and 2021, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Press right groups and international organizations have described Iraq as one of the “most dangerous” countries for journalists.

Prominent activist Ihab al-Wazni was killed in Karbala in May of this year. The murder sparked outrage among activists, with many blaming Iran-backed militias for his death.

Activist and journalist Ali al-Mikdam was kidnapped and tortured in July. He was later freed.

Iran-backed militias, including factions of the Popular Mobilization forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic), are widely blamed for the assassination attacks.