Newspaper Shuttered, Editor Held In Baghdad

Washington Post ^ | 07/23/03 | Pamela Constable

[Pokey78]

'Inciteful' Article Brings Raid on Site

BAGHDAD, July 22 -- A local newspaper has been shut down and its manager arrested over an article that U.S. occupation authorities and Iraqi officials considered an incitement to violence and a threat to human rights in Iraq.

Iraqi police accompanied by U.S. troops raided the offices of Al-Mustaqila newspaper, which means The Independent in Arabic. Neighbors said troops broke down the front door, ransacked the office and detained the newspaper's manager, Abdul Sattar Shalan.

According to U.S. occupation authorities, the paper published an article 10 days ago titled, "Death to all spies and those who cooperate with the U.S.; killing them is religious duty." The headline closely echoed recent threats made by clandestine armed groups against U.S. forces and their Iraqi collaborators.

[EternalVigilance]

Sounds like they were shouting 'fire' in a crowded theater to me...

[Toddsterpatriot]

This is outrageous!! Where is John Kerry to denounce Bush for this action???

Hehehe.

[x1stcav]

ransacked the office

Yeah, that sounds about right. Our troops always ransack wherever they go.

The credibility meter is going deep off the negative end. What a crock.

OTH, it sounds like we're starting to play hardball with the indig's.

[breakem]

Has Rangel heard about this?

[chuckles]

I'll be glad when the Dem's take over so they can re-install Sadam and make things right. This has gone too far! We should be supporting disent in everything, except of course abortion and gay rights. Haven't they ever heard of freedom of speech?(except, of course, abortion, sodomy, anti God, tree's, SUV's, womens rights, minorities, etc)

Sarcasm/off, for those that can't see my tounge in my cheek.

[clintonh8r]

Stand by for the "free speech at any cost" and "freedom of the press trumps all else" crowd to show up. Problem is, ain't no Constitution in Eye-rack...

[breakem]

I guess according to Rangel, we can't violate their right to be tortured by Saddam and the "kids."

[dighton]

Iraqi police accompanied by U.S. troops raided the offices of Al-Mustaqila newspaper, which means The Independent in Arabic.

No surprise, for those of us acquainted with al-Fisk.

[CindyDawg]

"Death to all spies and those who cooperate with the U.S.; killing them is religious duty."

Incitement to violence and a threat? HMMM Have to think about this one?

[dighton]

It's a very obscure legal point.

"Death to all spies and those who cooperate with the U.S.; killing them is religious duty."

Please don't jump to conclusions.

;-)

[jagrmeister]

The 1st Amendment is not absolute. I never cease to be amazed how much blind faith people have in "rule by media cabal".

[livius]

And even here at home, the press is not free to advocate the killing of people it doesn't like.

[veronica]

Iraqi police accompanied by U.S. troops raided the offices of Al-Mustaqila newspaper, which means The Independent in Arabic.

They were going to call The Guardian, but decided on The Independent.

Thanks for the ping. Funny responses on this thread. :)

[jagrmeister]

That's true. And I generally want to see more people critical of the media rather than less. Journalists slander people's name (and no, libel laws are not enforced), they print false charges or frivolous charges, they tear people's lives apart in full view of the community, they lie, they depict assasinations as desirable, etc. and get away with it. And all we get are morons going "It's their right". It's time we asked not just "what's someones' right" and thought about "what's the right thing to do". Responsibility is the flip side to Rights.

[hchutch]

Sounds like incitement to me...

If I were to runa newspaper and publish an editoiral offering money for someone who killed someone else, I'd have a visit from the FBI or some other government agency.