US closes Iraq paper causing protests

[The Kernel]

[url]http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/ ... x.html/url]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Several thousand Iraqis protested the closure of a newspaper Sunday, chanting anti-U.S. slogans and burning American flags outside the newspaper's office in Baghdad.

The U.S.-led civil administration in Iraq closed the Baghdad newspaper Al Hawsa for 60 days, accusing its publishers of inciting violence against coalition troops.

The paper is published by followers of prominent Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

"If the Coalition forces are going to keep on presenting us with such messages... they can just dream about any sort of end to terrorism," a statement from the newspaper said. "And they can also dream that we will stay quiet and step down from what we believe."

The Coalition Provisional Authority accused the paper's editors of printing articles that incited violence against U.S. and other coalition troops -- a violation of coalition regulations.

The building was sealed, and anyone caught attempting to publish the paper could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Sadr is the son of Shiite imam Muhammad Baqr al-Sadr, a prominent leader assassinated in 1999. A vocal critic of the American occupation of Iraq, he has a substantial following in the Shiite district of Baghdad that now bears his father's name.

In July, Iraqi police closed a newspaper they accused of running a "clearly inciteful" article calling on Iraqis to kill "all spies and those who cooperate with the U.S."
Baghdad blast wounds 4

Four Iraqi civilians were wounded Sunday, two seriously, in an explosion in the Baghdad neighborhood of Al-Karkh, said Brig. Ali Khazaal, an Iraqi police spokesman.

The blast appeared to have been the result of a buried improvised bomb, he said.

"There were four people injured in this attack, and they were rushed over to the hospital," he Khazaal said. "Two people were lightly injured and two people were severely injured. All of them are being treated."

The names of those injured were not known.

In the northern Iraqi city of Mosul Sunday, two civilians -- one British, one Canadian -- were killed in an attack.

The foreign ministries of each country confirmed the deaths, but said no details had been released.

A U.S. military spokesman in Iraq could only confirm "an incident that is being investigated by coalition forces and Iraqi police."

A military spokesman in Iraq could only confirm "an incident that is being investigated by coalition forces and Iraqi police" in Mosul.

A convoy carrying an Iraqi cabinet minister came under attack Sunday in northern Iraq, a coalition spokeswoman and a Kurdish official told CNN.

Nisreen Berwari, Iraq's minister of municipalities and public works, survived unscathed, but her driver and a bodyguard were killed, said coalition spokeswoman Kristi Clemens. Two others were wounded, Clemens said.

Qubad Talibani, a Kurdish official and son of an Iraqi Governing Council member, said the attack was an assassination attempt, but Clemens said it was not known whether Berwari was specifically targeted.

Trying to supress freedom of the press? I'm not sure this fits our claim of bringing Democracy and civil rights to Iraq.

[Chardok]

Kernel, I agree that on it's most fundamental level, it IS suppression of freedom of press, but there is martial law in Iraq, you know? We have to make sure things stay settled for awhile. You and I both know we aren't going to do this forever. But in the interest of everyone, including our soldier's safety, this is a good idea. I support it...For now. Now, If the new government, once in place follows suit, then we have a problem. plus, there really isnt an enforceable constitution in Iraq guaranteeing freedom of press yet, Nit-picky? Yeah, that probably is a bit nit-picky on my part, but if this issue went to court, that would essentially be the issue. Morally? Yeah it would be wrong-Later, but not now. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[TheDarkling]

Trying to supress freedom of the press? I'm not sure this fits our claim of bringing Democracy and civil rights to Iraq.

Not everybody holds freedom of the press to be absolute (the EU has various laws against hatred inducing, promoting certain terrorist organisations etc) although the US does hold it to be a fundamental right that the press should be free (to be bought by the highest bidder that is).

Iraq need not be built to US desires so depending upon what the paper was printing it may not be as offensive a breech as you seem to believe.

[Sharp-kun]

The Coalition Provisional Authority accused the paper's editors of printing articles that incited violence against U.S. and other coalition troops -- a violation of coalition regulations.

Assuming that is true, then it should have been shut down. Once we're gone they can print whatever they want.
If they mess this up for themselves they're more likely to end up with a regime that has no freedom of press.

[The Kernel]

I'm more concerned about the reaction to this closure by the Iraqis then the moral aspect of it. This is some excellent ammunition for the anti-occupation forces.

[Sharp-kun]

I'm more concerned about the reaction to this closure by the Iraqis then the moral aspect of it. This is some excellent ammunition for the anti-occupation forces.

Do they really need any more?

[Fire Fly]

Is it ok to want democracy and all the glory that comes with it, after having been under the rule of a despot for years, but not willing to work to acheive it? The Iraqis (most, I would think) like that the Americans came in and kicked Saddam out but want the US out as soon as possible; if the US leaves and trouble ensues, the US gets blamed. What I mean is, do the Iraqis have the right to complain about everything when the Admin in Iraq is trying their best to provide a stable democracy for them? From what I've seen and heard so far, all it seems is that the Iraqi people love to complain and hate the US. As things keep on continuing, I am more and more convinced that the Iraqi people don't want an Americain stylized democracy, but rather their own version of democracy based on the Koran. I think there's a good chance Iraq could turn into an Iran but with democracy mixed in.

But that's just me.

[The Kernel]

I'm more concerned about the reaction to this closure by the Iraqis then the moral aspect of it. This is some excellent ammunition for the anti-occupation forces.

Do they really need any more?

Think of it this way, what was the worst aspect of living under Saddam? Lack of personal freedoms. This was counter balanced by the fact that the people were relatively well taken care of (certainly far better then the quasi-feudal Saudi Arabia) so people were relatively happy, they simply weren't allowed to express their reservations about the government.

Fast forward to today. Life has gotten worse for the average citizen in Iraq (massive corruption, lack of social services, widespread unemployment) and the only thing that the occupation forces have been able to placate the population with is the knowledge that they have greater freedoms and that the situation will get better with time. Well, patience isn't high on anyones agenda in Iraq right now, so we've been using rhetoric about personal freedoms to keep the people in line. Unfortunately, actions like this are likely to inflame the situation even more as it becomes clear to the Iraqis that they were much better off in the short term under Saddam.

[Howedar]

Regardless of the reasons, this looks really bad.