The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has denounced the media safety crisis in the Iraqi city of Basra following a briefing yesterday by Haider Ali Hussain Al-Mansoury, the head of the IFJ affiliate Iraqi Journalists’ Syndicate (IJS) in Basra and Jasim Mohammed Oglah, a member of the IJS Press Freedom Committee.

The two journalists met the IFJ General Secretary and staff in Brussels and spoke of a climate of threats, violence and intimidation against journalists from armed groups and the city’s administration. The local administration officials are also blamed for resorting to legal intimidation against independent journalists who expose corruption and abuse of office.

Read the full IFJ statement