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Iraqi journalists fear their freedoms are being restricted after an arrest warrant was issued for Sarmad al-Tai, a journalist at the Al-Mada newspaper, in January 2014. News outlets reported another 51 warrants issued for the arrest of journalists and civil activists, against whom Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had personally instigated legal action under Article 229 of the Iraqi Penal Code.
A copy of the arrest warrant for Tai circulated in the media soon after it was issued. Although many questioned the news, Tai confirmed on his Facebook page Feb. 2 that indeed a warrant was issued for his arrest by a Baghdad court. According to Tai, the warrant is a message from Maliki, sent to “spread fear among activists and journalists.”
