Magazine of European Journalism Center - article about social media in iraq

Iraqi bloggers and social media activists speak up for their country

By Maryam Mohammed Jaafar*

Published on December 1, 2011

The 27-year-old Sahab gives a long laugh:  “The Iraqi government doesn’t bother me when I publish news and facts about the situation in Iraq in my blog.”

“I write under a pseudonym so no one knows my real identity,” he says, explaining this choice: “If the government finds out who I am, it will start to follow me and restrict me.”

Sahab’s smile is filled with hope when he adds:  “I know it’s dangerous to write but it’s important to document the suffering of the people and help them by letting others know the truth. I don’t want the crimes that happened in my country to be forgotten.”

Sahab launched his blog Shelters of death in March 2008. “I receive 50 visitors per day and a lot of comments,” he says.

* Maryam Jaafar: writes as a freelance journalist for several newspapers and also does volunteer work for Iraqi human rights organisations. She graduated in Political Science at Baghdad University in July 2011 and is the winner of the 2011 Kamel Shiaa Prize for Iraqi press freedom. Her interests lie in media, story writing, poetry, communicating with people and working with NGOs.