International reporters decries attacks against Kurdish media in Iraq

International press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders (RWB) on Friday decried what it said was a campaign of intimidation by Baghdad authorities against Kurdish media and it urged investigations of violations of press freedom.
"The Iraqi media, especially Kurdish media, are caught between the terrorist groups threatening the country and the current government, which is taking advantage of the chaos to settle scores with the media that criticize it," Reporters Without Borders said in a statement.
"At this time of political and security turmoil, it is vital that the authorities guarantee the safety of journalists, so that the media are able to operate with complete freedom," the organisation added.
RWB said news media are under severe pressure in Iraq at this time of tension and a stand-off between Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdish region in the north, also taking into account the activity of radical group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
On July 15, RWB recounted, the "Al-Taakhi" media which is linked with Kurdistan was invaded by gunmen in Iraqi security services uniforms and the staff were robbed and threatened and told to stop their activity.
The Arabic-language daily has since suspended operation because of safety concerns for staff.
"Since three years, attacks of this kind are not the subject of any investigation and those responsible continue to go unpunished," the National Journalists' Union said in reaction to this latest attack.