Attack on journalist’s house denounced

BABEL / IraqiNews.com: The Press Freedoms Observatory denounced today the attack against a journalist in Hilla, Babel province.   The attack took place last Friday night against Faris Abbas al-Samawi.   In a statement issued by the Observatory, as was received by IraqiNews.com, it noted that the attack was carried out by shooting the residence of the journalist, which led to breaking the windows and glass, as well as creating a state of panic in the house. His 16 year old daughter was wounded as a result.  Military checkpoints were only meters away, yet despite his cries no response was ever made.   Journalist Samawi added that the military checkpoint did not interfere or provide safety for his family.   He is living now in an unknown place, he added.   The Observatory called on Babel‘s local government and security organs to protect Samawi and his family’s lives, and take necessary legislations to protect journalists in the province.   Journalists and media workers have suffered various violent attacks since the American invasion in 2003, leaving a total of 259 Iraqi and foreign journalists killed. RM (TI)/SR   293