Posted: June 15, 2005
Al-Wihda
CENSORED
Publication of the weekly Al-Wihda was delayed on April 10 by security authorities until an article by journalist Muwaffaq Mahadin was removed. Mahadin told CPJ that the article was critical of how Prime Minister Adnan Badran's government was formed, claiming that its selection was undemocratic and that it was no different than previous governments. Al-Wihda was allowed to publish only after Mahadin's article was excised.
MAY 8, 2005
Posted: June 15, 2005
Al-Majd
CENSORED
Fahd al-Rimawi, editor of the weekly newspaper Al-Majd, told CPJ that publication of his May 8 edition was delayed by the printer under pressure from security officials. Authorities objected to Al-Majd's planned interview with a member of parliament who said he supported the Iraqi insurgency and was opposed to the interim government of Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.
Al-Rimawi told CPJ that the interview was removed after the member of parliament was pressured to rescind his comments. Al-Rimawi said he often receives calls from the printer, which is partly owned by the state, or security authorities telling him that editions will not be published until certain material is removed.