Free media needed for a democratic Iraq

The International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP) has supported a statement issued by the World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC) urging international authorities to respect media freedom and independence in reconstructed Iraq.

The International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP) has supported a statement issued by the World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC) urging international authorities to respect media freedom and independence in reconstructed Iraq. The document, drafted by James Ottaway, chairman of the WPFC, and backed by the worlds largest media organisations, states a prerequisite for putting any democratic system in place is creation of free and independent media."

Press freedom in Iraq in the last 35 years has been virtually non-existent. From the time when Saddam Hussein came to power in 1968 until the 1990s there were only two daily newspapers, two radio stations, and just two TV channels operating in the evening only. There were also only a small number of profession-based magazines. Critics claim all the media had to operate within the constraints imposed by Hussein.

This years World Press Freedom Day on 3 May serves as a timely reminder of the sacrifices made in the struggle for freedom of the press and to put pressure on the numerous countries that continue to deny their citizens this basic human right. In a report at the end of 2002, The World Association of Newspapers concluded that the global press freedom situation has once more deteriorated this past year: In those countries with long-standing freedom of expression problems, there is no or very little progress and in some areas where progress had been identified (Namibia, West Africa, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and East Europe), recent developments make it very clear that there is still a long way to go for the media."

Download the press release and full statement issued by the World Press Freedom Committee from http://www.fipp.com/downloads/IraqiPressFreedom.doc

Journalists killed
2003 17 (to date)
2002 46
2001 60
2000 53
1999 70
1998 28

For more information on World Press Freedom Day visit www.unesco.org and www.wan-press.info/

For more news from the International Federation of the Periodical Press and to subscribe to the free fortnightly newsletter, Magazine World Update, contact Arif Durrani arif@fipp.com or visit www.magazineworld.org