Director-General condemns murder of journalist Sardasht Osman in northern Iraq
17-05-2010 (Paris)
Sardasht Osman
The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has condemned the murder of independent journalist Sardasht Osman who was found dead in the city of Mosul on 6 May, two days after his abduction in Arbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. Ms Bokova also called for an investigation into the killing.
“I condemn the murder of Sardasht Osman,” declared the Director-General. “The use of violence to muzzle freedom of the press, which is founded on the basic human right of freedom of expression, cannot be tolerated and I trust that the authorities will spare no effort in pursuing those responsible for the killing of Sardasht Osman.”
Sardash Osman, 23, was a reporter for Ashtiname and a regular contributor to independent news websites Sbei, Awene, Hawlati, and Lvinpress. He was also a student of English in his final year at the University of Arbil.
The Committee to Protect Journalists quotes Sardash Osman’s brother as saying that the late journalist had received phone threats from people who asked him to stop publishing articles critical of the regional authorities.
Sardash Osman, 23, was a reporter for Ashtiname and a regular contributor to independent news websites Sbei, Awene, Hawlati, and Lvinpress. He was also a student of English in his final year at the University of Arbil.
The Committee to Protect Journalists quotes Sardash Osman’s brother as saying that the late journalist had received phone threats from people who asked him to stop publishing articles critical of the regional authorities.
UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this the Organization is requested to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”
Related themes/countries
· Press Freedom
· Iraq
· UNESCO Remembers Assassinated Journalists
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Contact information
- UNESCO Press Release No.2010-53
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