Inaugurated in Sulaimaniyah, the 'Guardians of Truth' Monument honors 551 journalists killed in Iraq since 2003

Peregraf

The ''Guardians of Truth' Monument was officially inaugurated in Sulaimaniyah. The Monument, created with the oversight of KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, features the names and dates of journalists who have been killed in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region since 2003.

The monument commemorates a total of 551 journalists. As stated on the monument's official website, the peak year for journalist fatalities was 2006, with 114 deaths recorded. This was followed by 95 fatalities in 2021. Notably, the years 2021 and 2022 marked a significant improvement for journalists, as there were no reported murders during these two years, a first since 2003.

At the provincial level, every Iraqi province has witnessed the murder of journalists. Since 2003, Baghdad has recorded the highest number of journalist fatalities, totaling 286. Following Baghdad, Nineveh has seen the deaths of 102 journalists, while 28 journalist fatalities has been reported in Salahaddin.

In the Kurdish cities, Kirkuk had the highest number of journalist fatalities, with a total of 23, followed by Erbil with 12 and Sulaymaniyah with five.

The monument was officially unveiled this evening at Sulaimani Azadi (Freedom) Park, with the attendance of KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani. Talabani remarked, "This monument serves to honor the journalists who have lost their lives in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region since 2003. It stands as a testament to their bravery and dedication to truth-telling, as well as an effort to maintain their legacy and ensure their names are remembered eternally."

In reference to the safeguarding of journalists, the deputy prime minister asserted that "The fallen journalists will endure in memory, while the legacy of their murderers will be one of perpetual shame. We aspire that no additional names will be inscribed on this monument."

"This monument was established in Azadi Park to serve as a constant reminder to both the public and the government of the sacrifices made for freedom and the press freedom," Qubad Talabani claimed.

In the meantime, Muayyad Lami, the head of the Iraqi Union of Journalists, emphasized the significance of the monument in commemorating the journalists who have lost their lives. "Regrettably, the toll of journalists killed in Iraq surpasses that of those who perished during World Wars I and II, as well as the Vietnam War," Lami stated.

The official website of the monument invites individuals to “assist in chronicling the lives and contributions of martyred journalists by submitting information, photographs, videos, and journalistic works”.