Political Activist Detained at Baghdad International Airport

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Political activist Salah el-Cerrah was detained at Baghdad International Airport in connection with a case related to publishing, according to a statement released Saturday by the Nahlel Center for Human Rights and Press Freedom. The center expressed concern over the detention, stating that such actions have increased over the last three years. The organization argued that these practices expand pressure on journalists and opinion-holders, creating an atmosphere of fear for media workers. Nahlel called on the Iraqi judiciary to protect rights and freedoms and requested that the process for el-Cerrah's release be expedited. In a separate count published in mid-May, the center reported approximately 1,000 violations against press freedom and journalists from late 2022 to mid-May 2024 during the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.