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Security forces are "terrified" by cameras. "Iraq is a police state and the police here do not understand freedom of expression."
According to New York Times photographer Joao Silva:
Iraqis know "the power of photographic images, and they know that if there are no photographs of a bomb, it has far less impact abroad." It's "definitely a culture of 'See No Evil.' "
Journalists also told HRW they're prevented from filming "non-contentious public sites." Those trying are harassed, assaulted, detained, tortured, and lose their equipment.
Amnesty International (AI) on Human Rights in Iraq
In its 2011 report, AI found "disturbing evidence of targeted attacks on political activists, torture and other ill-treatment of people arrested in connection with protests, and attacks or threats against journalists, media outlets, government critics, academics and students."
It reported deplorable conditions overall, including abuses and killings by armed groups, detention without trial, torture and ill-treatment, deaths in custody, persecuting former Ba'ath party officials, "serious" human rights violations by US forces, violence against women and girls, millions still living as refugees, 1,300 prisoners on death row, and another 279 sentenced to death.
Throughout the occupation, US forces are especially culpable. Their mission includes targeting journalists. In 2005, CNN's then news division head, Eason Jordan, admitted during a Davos, Switzerland panel discussion that "he knew of about 12 journalists who had not only been killed by American troops, but had been targeted as a matter of policy."
Damage control tried to whitewash his comments. Clear evidence supports them. Stating them publicly cost him his job. Earlier, BBC's Kate Adie told Radio One Ireland that independent journalists are targeted. They still are.
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