Riad al-Saray
Encyclopedia
Riad al-Saray was an Iraq
i journalist, television presenter, lawyer and politician. He worked for the national TV channel Al Iraqiya
from 2005 until his death. He was killed in a drive-by shooting
carried out by a group of unknown gunmen. His murder was condemned by Reporters Without Borders
and the British
embassy in Baghdad
, among others.
network in 2005 and was the presenter of several religious and political programmes. He has been praised for attempting to reduce sectarian divides in Iraqi society through his programmes. He was not considered to be a controversial journalist, despite addressing political matters on air. In addition to his television work Saray sat on the local council in the Shia neighbourhood of Al-Shu'ala
in north-west Baghdad
and once served as its mayor. Saray was a trained lawyer
and was married with three young children.
in the south. The attack occurred in Mansour district
, western Baghdad at 6 am local time (3 am GMT) and was carried out by a group of gunmen, driving past in a speeding car. A silencer is believed to have been used during the attack as nearby traffic police did not hear any shots before witnessing Saray's car leave the road and crashing. Saray died at the scene of the attack.
Saray became the 15th al-Iraqiya journalist to be killed since the fall of Saddam Hussein
's regime, the highest individual death toll for any media organisation. His death was described by Reporters Without Borders
(RWB) as a "targeted murder" and the organisation called for the authorities to investigate, arrest and punish the attackers. The Committee to Protect Journalists
and the British
embassy deplored the killing of Saray with the latter stating that "a free and courageous press is an essential component of democracy. We support journalists in Iraq [and] assure them of our continuous support in the face of violence and intimidation". The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
, Irina Bokova
, also spoke out against Saray's murder stating that "such attacks on journalists are attacks on the fundamental right of freedom of expression".
Saray's death came the same day that RWB announced that the Iraq War had become the most deadly for journalists since the Second World War with 230 journalists killed. In addition the RWB called "for a proper investigation capable of identifying and arresting both the perpetrators and instigators of this murder and bringing them to justice ... it would be deplorable if this killing were to go unpunished, which unfortunately has been the case in 99 per cent of the ... journalists and media workers [killed] since the US-led invasion in 2003". Saray was buried in the city of Najaf
on 7 September and a mourning ceremony was later held at the local governor's office.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i journalist, television presenter, lawyer and politician. He worked for the national TV channel Al Iraqiya
Al Iraqiya
Al Iraqiya is a satellite and terrestrial public broadcaster and television network in Iraq that was set up after the fall of Sadaam Hussein. It is an Arabic language network that serves upwards of 85% of Iraq's population, and is viewed by a significant percentage .The channel began under the...
from 2005 until his death. He was killed in a drive-by shooting
Drive-by shooting
A drive-by shooting is a form of hit-and-run tactic, a personal attack carried out by an individual or individuals from a moving or momentarily stopped vehicle without use of headlights to avoid being noticed. It often results in bystanders being shot instead of, or as well as, the intended target...
carried out by a group of unknown gunmen. His murder was condemned by Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
and the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
embassy in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, among others.
Career
Saray joined the national Al IraqiyaAl Iraqiya
Al Iraqiya is a satellite and terrestrial public broadcaster and television network in Iraq that was set up after the fall of Sadaam Hussein. It is an Arabic language network that serves upwards of 85% of Iraq's population, and is viewed by a significant percentage .The channel began under the...
network in 2005 and was the presenter of several religious and political programmes. He has been praised for attempting to reduce sectarian divides in Iraqi society through his programmes. He was not considered to be a controversial journalist, despite addressing political matters on air. In addition to his television work Saray sat on the local council in the Shia neighbourhood of Al-Shu'ala
Al-Shu'ala
Al-Shu'ala is a neighborhood of Baghdad, Iraq....
in north-west Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and once served as its mayor. Saray was a trained lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and was married with three young children.
Assassination
On 7 September 2010 Saray was shot whilst driving to work from his home in Harithiya, Baghdad to KarbalaKarbala
Karbala is a city in Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad. Karbala is the capital of Karbala Governorate, and has an estimated population of 572,300 people ....
in the south. The attack occurred in Mansour district
Mansour district
Al Mansour district is one of nine administrative districts in Baghdad, Iraq. It is named after Abu Ja'far al-Mansur, the second Abbasid Caliph and founder of Baghdad....
, western Baghdad at 6 am local time (3 am GMT) and was carried out by a group of gunmen, driving past in a speeding car. A silencer is believed to have been used during the attack as nearby traffic police did not hear any shots before witnessing Saray's car leave the road and crashing. Saray died at the scene of the attack.
Saray became the 15th al-Iraqiya journalist to be killed since the fall of Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
's regime, the highest individual death toll for any media organisation. His death was described by Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
(RWB) as a "targeted murder" and the organisation called for the authorities to investigate, arrest and punish the attackers. The Committee to Protect Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
and the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
embassy deplored the killing of Saray with the latter stating that "a free and courageous press is an essential component of democracy. We support journalists in Iraq [and] assure them of our continuous support in the face of violence and intimidation". The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, Irina Bokova
Irina Bokova
Irina Georgieva Bokova is a Bulgarian politician, incumbent Directors-General of UNESCO. She was member of the Bulgarian Parliament from the Bulgarian Socialist Party for two terms, minister and deputy minister of foreign affairs in the socialist cabinet of Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, and was...
, also spoke out against Saray's murder stating that "such attacks on journalists are attacks on the fundamental right of freedom of expression".
Saray's death came the same day that RWB announced that the Iraq War had become the most deadly for journalists since the Second World War with 230 journalists killed. In addition the RWB called "for a proper investigation capable of identifying and arresting both the perpetrators and instigators of this murder and bringing them to justice ... it would be deplorable if this killing were to go unpunished, which unfortunately has been the case in 99 per cent of the ... journalists and media workers [killed] since the US-led invasion in 2003". Saray was buried in the city of Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
on 7 September and a mourning ceremony was later held at the local governor's office.