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Call for an independent investigation into
the murder of the Kurdish journalist Soran Mama Hama
29.7.2008
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July
29, 2008
Kurdistan region "Iraq"
Soran Mama Hama, a reporter with the independent
Kurdish magazine LIVIN, was
gunned down by
unidentified gunmen in Kirkuk on 21 July. The victim
had received death threats by phone after reporting
on abuse of power by security forces in Kirkuk. He
was also a member of The Center of Halabja against
Genocide and Anfalization (CHAK) Organisation.
This grave crime is tantamount to a declaration of
war against the nascent free press in Iraqi
Kurdistan, where journalists and media professionals
are playing an essential role in order to testify
and to make public the violations of human rights
and corruption in this region,www.ekurd.net
a right granted to them
by International Human Rights Law, in particular the
article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, and article 19 of the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights.
Only a few days after the murder of Soran Mama Hama
other independent Kurdish journalists received death
threats. These crimes, if not independently
investigated and the perpetrators not brought to
justice and punished, will surely cause more
casualties and seriously threaten the stability and
security of Iraq and undermine the rule of law.
According to latest news, the Kirkuk security forces
have started with the investigations what raises
serious doubts about the independence and
effectiveness of these investigations, since the
Kirkuk security forces are within the circle of
suspects in this murder case.
We may therefore appeal on the international
community to honour their obligations under the
Security Council Resolution 1738 to end impunity and
to prosecute those responsible for such a serious
violation of human rights, and their obligations
under the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949,www.ekurd.net
in particular the
additional protocols of 8 June 1977, in particular
the article 79 of the Additional Protocol I
regarding the protection of journalists, where the
states parties to Geneva Conventions have an
obligation to search for persons alleged to have
committed a grave breach of Geneva Conventions, and
the obligation to try them before their own courts,
regardless of their nationality.
The United Nations and the Multinational Forces in
Iraq, under the leadership of the United States, are
in particular reminded of their obligations under
the Security Council Resolutions 1511, 1546 and
1723, welcoming the willingness of multinational
forces to continue efforts to contribute to the
maintenance of security and stability of Iraq, and
giving the United Nations Assistance Mission for
Iraq the mandate to promote the protection of human
rights and strengthen the rule of law.
The Center of Halabja against Genocide and
Anfalization
www.chaknews.com
www.chak.be
chak_org (at) yahoo.com
22/07/2008
Copyright, respective author or news agency, Chak
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