Iran-backed militias assassinate Iraqi journalist amid nationwide protests

Iraq, January 11, 2020—Paramilitary forces with ties to the Iranian regime murdered an Iraqi journalist and his camera operator for criticizing the destructive role of the Iranian regime in his country.

On Friday, Ahmad Abdul Samad, an Iraqi journalist working for Dijla TV in Basra, southern Iraq, posted a video on Facebook, protesting the role of Hashd al-Shaabi (PMF), an Iran-backed Shiite militia coalition, in attacking journalists and reporters who are giving coverage to nationwide protests in Iraq. Abdul Samad also criticized Iraqi security forces, which are widely influenced by Tehran, for attacking peaceful anti-government protests in Basra but taking no measures against protests by Iran-backed militias in front of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Three hours after posting the video, Abdul Samad was found dead in his car along with Safa Ghali, his camera operator. A video widely distributed on social media shows Abdul Samad slumped in the passenger seat of his car with a bullet wound to his head. Ghali, shot in the chest, died while he was being taken to the hospital.

The outraged people of Basra gathered around Abdul Samad’s home and protested the crimes of Hash al-Shaabi and the Iranian regime. Protesters in Basra also gathered in front of the police command headquarters and demanded the release of arrested protesters.

https://english.mojahedin.org/i/iran-hashd-al-shaabi-murder-iraqi-journalist-20200111