(Iraq PM) Maliki's guards abuse journalists during Babel festival

[sabra]

Source: Voice of Iraq

Babel, Mar. 20, (VOI) – Premier Nouri Al-Maliki's guards offended journalists on Thursday when they hit and cursed reporters and their aids, preventing them for covering Babel Festival's activities that started today in Hilla city, Babel governorate spokesman said.

"We are surprised because the Premier that calls on respecting and protecting journalists allows his guards to offend them," Abdul-Ridha Essa told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
He added "Journalists were hit, cursed, and prevented from covering the Festival's activities, and this is a big violation of Freedom of the Press."

Essa explained that journalists gathered at a yard in front of one of the Festival's rooms to condemn the violation.
Iraqi Premier opened Babel Festival, on Thursday in Hilla city, 100 km south of Baghdad, a festival which will last for ten days, with the participation of all cultural and art sectors of Babal province.

Iraqi Association of Defending Journalists' Rights condemned that act of Premier's guards.

"The Association demands the Premier to render his statements about protecting journalists to a tangible reality, and to apply Article 38 of the Iraqi constitution that sponsors journalistic rights and Freedom of Speech," said a release issued by the Association and received by VOI.

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