Iraq: Attack and subsequent death of human rights defender and journalist Shihab Al-Timimi

Your Excellency,

I am deeply concerned following the attack and subsequent death of human rights defender and journalist Shihab Al-Timimi, aged seventy-five years. Shihab Al-Timimi was the head of the Iraqi Journalists' Union as well as a renowned campaigner for the right to freedom of expression in Iraq.

On 24 February 2008, Shihab Al-Timimi had just left the headquarters of the Iraqi Journalists' Union and was travelling with his son to an art gallery in the Waziriya neighbourhood of north-eastern Baghdad when his car was ambushed by unidentified armed men who opened fire on his car. Shihab Al-Timimi was taken to hospital where he suffered a stroke as a result of his injuries. He died on 27 February 2008. His son was also injured in the attack and is now in a stable condition in hospital. Shihab Al-Timimi had reportedly been the subject of death threats prior to the attack, warning him that he would be killed if he did not retire from his position as head of the Iraqi Journalists' Union.

I believe that Shihab Al-Timimi was targeted as a result of his human rights activities, in particular his work to defend the right to freedom of expression in Iraq. Front Line is concerned that this attack may represent an ongoing trend of violence against journalists. In 2007, 47 journalists were killed in Iraq and 209 have been killed since 2003.

I urge the Iraqi government to:

1)Initiate an immediate, exhaustive, and impartial investigation into the attack against Shihab Al-Timimi and his son, with a view to identifying those responsible, publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

2)Guarantee the security of the family of Shihab Al-Timimi and all journalists working in Iraq;

3)Take measures to ensure that all human rights defenders in Iraq, carrying out their legitimate work, are free to operate without fear of restrictions or reprisals;

Yours sincerely