Ali Jaafar

Al-Iraqiya

May 31, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq

Jaafar, 24, a well-known sports correspondent and anchor at Iraq's state television channel Al-Iraqiya, was shot by unidentified gunmen as he opened up his recently deceased brother's auto shop near his home in Al-Shorta al-Rabaa in southwest Baghdad, according to CPJ sources and international news reports. His colleagues believe he was killed because he worked for Al-Iraqiya.

Insurgents frequently targeted Al-Iraqiya and its staff because of the station's ties to the U.S.-supported Iraqi government. About two dozen employees of the state-run Iraq Media Network, which includes Al-Iraqiya, had been killed in the war, most by insurgents. Al-Iraqiya offices had repeatedly come under mortar attack.

Medium: Television

Job: Broadcast Reporter

Beats Covered: Sports

Gender: Male

Local or Foreign: Local

Freelance: No

Type of Death: Murder

Suspected Source of Fire: Political Group

Impunity: Yes

Taken Captive: No

Tortured: No

Threatened: Yes

Related Articles:

• CPJ Update, June 16, 2006
• TV sports reporter gunned down in Baghdad , May 31, 2006