Iraqi authorities must immediately release journalist Matej Kavčič and ensure the foreign press can cover the country freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement.
Iraqi authorities must immediately release journalist Matej Kavčič and ensure the foreign press can cover the country freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement.
“Iraqi authorities must release Slovenian journalist Matej Kavčič immediately and without charge, and must ensure that the press can work freely,” said Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, in Washington. “Journalists in Iraq must be able to do their jobs without fear of reprisal or being caught in political crosshair,” he added.
CPJ emailed the Slovenian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, which oversees the country’s relations with Iraq, and the Slovenian Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment, but did not receive any replies.
CPJ also emailed the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, and Communication and Media Commission for comment, but did not receive any replies.
Background
Matej Kavčič and German citizen Marlene F. were arrested on 20 April 2022 by the Iraqi army without giving any reason at a checkpoint in Şengal; the same settlement area in Iraq that has been known worldwide since the genocide of the Yazidis by the so-called Islamic State in 2014.
