Two Iraqi journalists arrested for allegedly stealing a notepad belonging to the country\'s defence minister were freed on Thursday in a case that sparked criticism from press freedom activists. Mohammed Fuad and Afdhal Jumaa were arrested on June 4 and accused of having stolen Saadun al-Dulaimi\'s notepad after a June 1 meeting of political leaders. The meeting had been convened to ease tensions and break a long-standing deadlock that has paralysed lawmaking and contributed to a spike in violence in the country. \"Iraqi authorities have released the journalists who found the notebook of Saadun al-Dulaimi and were accused of stealing it,\" said Muayad al-Lami, head of the Iraqi Journalists\' Syndicate. Lami said Dulaimi had dropped the charges against the pair. Defence ministry officials accused them of wilfully stealing the notepad, but activists and family members insisted the two found the book after the meeting and handed it to an official who failed to return it. Their arrest had been condemned by media rights groups in Iraq, which regularly ranks towards the bottom of global press freedoms rankings. It came in 150th out of 179 countries in media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders\' 2013 Press Freedom Index.
GMT 01:15 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Bollywood actor gets engaged to long-time girlfriendGMT 08:31 2018 Monday ,22 January
Candypants appoints JPR Media GroupGMT 23:09 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Famed photographer Mario Testino accusedGMT 22:22 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Lebanon bans Spielberg film and adventurer biopicGMT 19:44 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Michael Douglas, James Franco denyGMT 19:39 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Hollywood gets party season startedGMT 11:08 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Facebook agrees to widen probe of Brexit vote fake newsGMT 15:30 2018 Monday ,15 January
George Clooney to make TV return for 'Catch-22' miniseriesMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor