VZCZCXRO7329
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #1433/01 1521234
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011234Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3286
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001433 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI JOURNALISTS CONTINUE THE ELUSIVE SEARCH FOR 
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS 
 
REF: BAGHDAD 1077 
 
Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Steve Walker for reason 1.4 ( 
d). 
 
¶1.  (C)  Summary:  In a recent roundtable discussion, Iraqi 
journalists and representatives from various non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) provided their views on freedom of the 
press, access to information and the influence of political 
parties on Iraqi media.  Participants expressed a genuine 
fear of GOI prosecution, both civil and criminal, for any 
statements critical of the Iraqi administration, noting that 
some journalists receive multiple threats each day.  They 
accepted that responsibility for advancing freedom of the 
press rests with Iraqis, and emphasized the need for a 
comprehensive law addressing issues central to the 
establishment of an independent media.  The Embassy, in 
cooperation with various DRL grantees, is providing technical 
assistance to this end.  End summary. 
 
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Participants 
------------ 
 
¶2.  (C)  The following is a list of participants from the May 
14 roundtable discussion held at the Al-Monsoor Hotel in 
Baghdad:  Dr. Hamdan al-Salim, professor at Baghdad 
University's College of Information; Dr. Hassan Kamil, 
professor at Baghdad University's College of Information and 
deputy editor-in-chief of Al-Dustoor newspaper; Mahir Faisal 
Shair, independent journalist; Imad al-Ibadi, executive 
director of Al-Diyar satellite television channel; Dr. Nabeel 
Jasim, news and political programs director of Al-Sumarriya 
satellite television channel; Huda Jasim, director of 
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper's Baghdad bureau; Nadhum 
al-Ighaili, editor of Al-Noor newspaper; Najha Kadhim, 
executive editor of Al-Noor newspaper; Ziyad al-Ajili, 
director of the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory (JFO); and 
Ibrahim al-Sarraj, director of the Iraqi Journalists' Rights 
Defense Association (IJRDA).  In addition, representatives 
from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) 
were present, as were the director and staff from the 
DRL-grantee International Research and Exchange Board's 
(IREX's) program Supporting Independent Media in Iraq (SIMI) 
and member of the Embassy's public affairs section. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
The "February 30 Committee" Begins Work 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C)  At the behest of Poloffs, IREX country director 
Jacqueline Frank organized an off-the-record roundtable 
meeting on May 14 with members of the Iraqi media and 
representatives from NGOs working on press freedom in Iraq. 
The group, referring to themselves as the "February 30 
Committee" because "the chance of there being freedom of the 
press in Iraq is about the same as the existence of the date 
February 30," were highly critical of GOI restrictions on the 
media.  Noting that "all journalists complain and criticize 
government," Dr. Nabeel Jasim and Najha Kadim began the 
meeting by condemning the GOI's use of CPA Order 14, still in 
effect, to justify arrests and detentions of journalists, as 
well as confiscation of their equipment.  Mahir Faisal Shair 
criticized the creation of a heavily sectarian press corps, 
including the many satellite channels backed by religious 
parties and organizations. 
 
¶4.  (C)  A common theme among all participants was the need 
to establish an Iraqi press independent of GOI and major 
political party funding and oversight.  Attendees discussed 
the difficulty in exposing fraud and corruption within the 
government, as such claims, even if true, would likely lead 
to civil or criminal prosecution, confiscation of property 
and equipment and further censorship.  Imad al-Ibadi noted 
Qand equipment and further censorship.  Imad al-Ibadi noted 
how his satellite channel, Al-Diyar, was recently fined 10 
million Iraqi Dinars (approximately $8,600) for broadcasting 
a member of parliament's statement regarding corruption 
within the Ministry of Trade.  Ziyad al-Ajili commented that 
"there is no such thing as freedom of press in Iraq; it does 
not exist," noting that "Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) approval 
is required to do any work."  He also lamented the lack of 
access to information from ministries and the parliament and 
the general lack of transparency in government.  "If given 
the choice between freedom of the press with no government, 
or government without freedom of the press, I would choose 
the former," he stated.  Unlike the initial few speakers, 
al-Ajili agreed that the lack of a free press was an Iraqi 
problem requiring an Iraqi solution.  He stated that a 
freedom of information law would be a good first step, and 
one that was realistic politically. 
 
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BAGHDAD 00001433  002 OF 002 
 
 
New Media Law is Imperative to Protect Press Freedoms 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶5.  (C)  The group was unanimous in its support for the 
drafting of a comprehensive law to address freedom of the 
press, freedom of information, and freedom of expression. 
Nadhum al-Ighaili emphasized that while such a law was the 
responsibility of Iraqis, they would appreciate the political 
and technical support of the USG and the United Nations. 
(Note:  IREX has previously worked with journalists a media 
law.  Dr. Hassan Kamil echoed this statement, noting that a 
clear legal foundation is necessary to produce such a 
"democratic shift" in Iraq, one that truly changes society's 
institutions.  Many journalists fear arrest and prosecution 
for any statements made against the administration, which Dr. 
Kamil noted produces a chilling effect on their ability to 
publish.  Huda Jasim agreed with this sentiment, adding that 
journalists are fearful of being "killed in the street" for 
exposing government corruption.  A law which addresses 
freedom of the press and access to information would, in her 
view, be a positive first step toward fixing the system. 
 
¶6.  (C)  Finally, Dr. Hamdan al-Salim discussed the 
importance of proper education and training in establishing a 
truly professional press corps.  The attendees expressed the 
hope that Iraqi journalists would have the opportunity to 
visit their counterparts in the U.S. through the 
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP); Ziyad 
al-Ajili, a former participant in the IVLP, provided the 
group with a well-received account of his experiences with 
the program. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  Poloffs on May 18 met with IREX and the Institute 
for International Law and Human Rights (IILHR), another DRL 
grantee, to map out a strategy for USG assistance to the 
"February 30 Committee."  IILHR will work with the "February 
30 Committee" to provide the group with critiques of draft 
Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Information Laws. 
 
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Comment 
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¶8.  (C)  This was the third meeting coordinated by IREX to 
address freedom of the press issues with Iraqi journalists 
(reftel).  While the attendees had many negative things to 
say about the manner in which the media is treated by the 
GOI, and were generally of the view that the press had 
limited, if any, freedom of expression, it was encouraging 
that they view this as an Iraqi problem requiring an Iraqi 
solution.  There was a definite consensus that the situation 
will improve dramatically if the parliament passes a 
comprehensive media law addressing their concerns.  The 
Embassy, along with its DRL grantees, will work with the 
"February 30 Committee" to assist them in drafting this 
legislation and pushing it through parliament. 
HILL