Iraqi Employee Of The New York Times Killed In Iraq

An Iraqi freelance journalist and photographer working for The New York Times was abducted from his home by a group of armed men and found dead hours later, the paper reported.

Fakher Haider, 38, had worked for The Times since April 2003 and had also done part-time work for two TV stations, as well as The Guardian of London and National Geographic.

Haider's wife told The Times he was abducted from his home by a group of masked, armed men who claimed to be police officers. The men ransacked their apartment, took Haider's telephones, pistol and videotapes, and said they were going to interrogate Haider and bring him back later.

Haider's body was found early Monday in a deserted area outside Basra, his hands bound and a bag over his head, witnesses told The Times. A relative told The Times Haider had been shot in the head.

According to the paper, Haider had recently reported on demonstrations that broke out following the arrests of two members of the Mahadi Army, one of the rival Shiite militias in Basra.

It is common for international news organizations to employ Iraqi staff members to assist in newsgathering. Local staff know their way around the area and can better travel to dangerous places without attracting attention.

Stories of journalists killed or abducted in Iraq now happen routinely.

The Committee to Protect Journalists says another Iraqi journalist, reporter Hind Ismail of the local daily As-Saffir, was kidnapped and killed in Mosul on Friday.

Last month in Basra, American freelance reporter Steven Vincent, who was writing a book about the city, was abducted and killed.

In addition, several journalists have been arrested by coalition forces and continue to be detained, including an Iraqi photographer working for Reuters, Ali al-Mashhadani, who was arrested Aug. 8 in Ramadi.

In August, Reuters TV soundman Waleed Khaled was killed and cameraman Haider Kadhem was slightly wounded when they came under fire by U.S. forces as they drove to the scene of a shooting in Baghdad.

Including Haider, 55 journalists have been killed in Iraq since March 2003, the CPJ says. Reporters Without Borders, which keeps a separate count, says 68 journalists and media assistants have been killed in Iraq in the same period.

Related stories:

• U.S. Spokesperson Questions Vetting Process for Iraqi Journalists


• Reuters: At Least Five Journalists Are Being Held in Iraq


• Reuters Wants Answers About Detained Photographer