User:Crtew/Press intimidation during Iraq's Day of Rage protests

Press intimidation during Iraq's Day of Rage protests began with the assassination of Hilal al-Ahmadi on 17 February 2011 and continued after the protests on 25 February. Reporters Without Borders called this time “one of the blackest days for media freedom” in Iraq.

Assassination of Hilal al-Ahmadi
Hilal al-Ahmadi, a veteran Iraqi journalist, was assassinated in a suburb east of Mosul, Iraq on 17 February 2011. He was a well-known journalist who focused on government corruption and lack of services. The response by major IGO and NGOs to his death was to denouce the impunity in cases like Al-Ahmadi's that was leading to further violence against journalists. Hilal al-Ahmadi was leaving his home on Thursday, February 17, 2011. As he was leaving, two unidentified men armed with submachine guns opened fire on Ahmadi. He was hit several times and died instantly as the men escaped in their car.

Journalistic Freedoms Observatory
The Journalistic Freedoms Observatory's office was ransacked on 24 February by Iraqi soldiers.

Iraqi Day of Rage
The nationwide protests known as a "Day of Rage" in Iraq on 25 February were inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Al-Jazeera reported that protests took place in major Iraqi cities, such as Baghdad, Basra, Fallujah, Hawija, Mosul, with the largest demonstrations in Sulaimaniyah. The protests centered around corruption and lack of services.

In Hawja, three people were killed and 15 injured.

In Karbala, Mushtaq Muhammad of Reuters sustained head injuries and had his camera confiscated.

Detentions
Journalistic Freedoms Observatory estimated that 160 journalists had been detained around the time of the protests.

Hadi al-Mahdi was among the journalists who were either arrested or detained during those days. al-Mahdi, who is known as a vocal radio commentator, was also an organizer of the protests through Facebook.

Boycott
Journalists announced a boycott against Prime Minister Nuri-Al-Maliki and the Baghdad military commander.