The Iraqi Journalists Union:
227 deaths of journalists and media workers since the invasion of Iraq.
The Iraqi Journalists Union said in statement on Tuesday 12 of June that 227 journalists and media staff were killed since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. The Union demanded that the Iraqi government and the American forces to "take necessary measures to protect journalists." Al-Alami the Head of the Union said "the real number of Iraqi journalists who were killed in the country since the occupation forces stood at 227 people;" with others "15 are still missing." He added that "the targeting and killing of journalists compelled the union to form a committee to provide ways to ensure safety of journalists during their work.
Reporters without Borders reported that more than 90% of these are Iraqis who were murdered by death squads or the rebel groups in order to prevent them from performing their duty and in the name of the employing which follow often to the local political team.
Al-Alami criticized the American forces for the raid they carried on the headquarters of the Journalists Union on the 20th of February 2007.
On Monday UNESCO issued a statement expressed its concern about the rise number and tragic death of journalists killed in Iraq, calling on the Iraqi authorities and the international community to make every effort to put an end to these crimes.