Call To Free French-Aussie Journalist Detained In Iraq

MELBOURNE, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- Iraqi authorities have detained a French-Australian journalist without charge for more than a week.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has confirmed it is aware of the detention of 40-year-old Nadir Dendoune, an Algerian-born man who holds joint French and Australian citizenship.

DFAT says the French embassy is providing consular assistance to Dendoune but Australia is monitoring the case.

It is believed authorities detained Dendoune - who was in Baghdad to report on the upcoming 10th anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq - for taking pictures without permission on January 23.

Iraqi police have reportedly told French officials he was caught photographing a restricted location, but his family has told Agence France-Presse he was taking pictures of a water filtration system.

The international Committee to Protect Journalists has called for his release.

"The arbitrary jailing of a journalist is a vestige of the Saddam Hussein regime that is completely out of place in Iraq's democracy today," CPJ's Middle East and North Africa coordinator Sherif Mansour is quoted by the Australian Associated Press as saying.

"Nadir Dendoune should be released immediately."

The Iraqi Syndicate for Journalists has also condemned Dendoune's detention, calling it a violation of Iraqi law and the constitution.

Source http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsindex.php?id=925552