Occupiers Prevent Free Journalism in Iraq

Turkish journalist Mete Çubukçu who covered US invasion of İraq testified before WTI: In front of Abu Gharib it writes: it is allowed to open fire on those who shoot with their cameras here. In Fallujah, there were no reporters except the embedded.

İstanbul

During the session on the accountability of the media at the World Tribunal on Iraq, Turkish journalist Mete Cubukcu who frequently covered US invasion in Iraq served as a witness.

Cubukcu spoke on the moral responsibility of war journalism. "I am objective but I am not impartial," said Cubukcu. "I am against war."

Cubukcu, who has served as a journalist in Palestine and Iraq several times, and published two books titled, "Our Palestine," and "Journalism Under Fire," said "journalists cannot talk of being objective in the Iraqi war because the Iraqi war is not an objective war."

"The U.S. didn't want the people to know what was going on in Iraq," said Cubukcu. "So it opted to report the war only through its own journalists."

He added:

"Journalists were fleeing Baghdad on March 17, 2003 because of subtle threats. Fire was opened on the Palestine Hotel because they did not want any image from Iraq and the real images were never released. In front of Abu Gharib was a sign saying "it is allowed to open fire on those who shoot with their cameras here." In Fallujah, there were no reporters except the embedded journalists."

Mete Cubukcu stressed that the journalists in Iraq became targets for the occupation force. "The people should face those bloody scenes," said Cubukcu. "There are so little images showing the real face of war." The occupation force has prevented free journalism in Iraq, he added.

"A journalist's job is to show what's going on," said Cubukcu. "War is dirty and this dirt has to be exposed." (CM/KO)

Origin

BÄ°A News Center

Muse postpones İstanbul concert amid anti-government boycott

The organizer of the concert scheduled for June came under fire after labeling the ongoing boycott campaign as "treason," which resulted in their inclusion in the campaign as well.

BIA News Desk

Muse postpones İstanbul concert amid anti-government boycott — Wikimedia Commons

British rock band Muse has announced the postponement of its upcoming concert in İstanbul, originally scheduled for June, amid an ongoing boycott campaign in Turkey that targets companies perceived as close to the government.

“After careful consideration and hearing the feedback from our fans whilst fully respecting their concerns, our show in Istanbul will now be postponed until 2026 so we can ensure DBL Entertainment will not be involved," the band said on social media.

The concert was organized by DBL Entertainment, a company that came under the spotlight after its owner labeled the ongoing boycott as "treason," prompting its inclusion in the campaign.

Public outrage against the company led Norwegian singer Ane Brun and South African comedian Trevor Noah to cancel their scheduled shows in Turkey organized by the same company, following appeals from their fans in the country.

The boycott campaign was initiated by the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) following the arrest of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on Mar 19. Party leader Özgür Özel cited the mainstream media's lack of coverage of the massive protests against the mayor's detention as the reason for the boycott, calling on the public to avoid patronizing companies affiliated with the same business conglomerates as those media outlets.

The boycott expanded to a nationwide one-day no-shopping action today, urging people to avoid all forms of spending.

After careful consideration and hearing the feedback from our fans whilst fully respecting their concerns, our show in Istanbul will be now postponed until 2026 so we can ensure DBL Entertainment will not be involved.

Thank you for your ongoing support, it means everything to…
— muse (@muse) April 2, 2025