The Iraqi Center for Supporting Freedom of Speech calls for the Baghdad operations to release a number of journalists detained from different areas in Baghdad, the most recent of which is the correspondent of the Assyrian news agency Mustafa al-Khafaji, who was detained by a checkpoint at the entrance to the Asya neighborhood in Dora, south of Baghdad.

While the Iraqi Center deplores the repeated harassment, it calls on Baghdad Operations Commander General Jalil al-Rubaie to order all checkpoints to respect the work of journalists and facilitate their duties to cover Voting operations.

 Mustafa al-Khafaji, Ashur News Agency correspondent report the Iraqi Center “On Saturday morning, at 8:30 AM, I was stopped by a checkpoint of the Baghdad Operations Command at the entrance to the Asya neighborhood in Doura district, where I was detained after that”.

Al-Khafaji said that his detention was carried out after identity of his work and the another one which issued by Independent Electoral Commission, but the associates are demanding authorization from the Baghdad Operations Command, But the Baghdad operations confirmed that it will depend on the Electoral Commission.