Iraqi journalist kidnapped from home in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Kurdistan24) – A female journalist was kidnapped from her home on Monday night after unidentified gunmen broke into her house in Baghdad.

Afrah Shawqi al-Qaisi, a veteran journalist and employee of the Iraqi Culture Ministry, was taken from her home in Baghdad’s southwestern Saydiyah neighborhood.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry released a statement on Tuesday calling residents to come forward with information that would help with the investigation.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi requested security forces to begin investigations into the kidnapping of the journalist.

Additionally, Abadi urged security forces to “exert the utmost effort” to save her.

Qaisi is recognized for her criticism of the country’s political corruption.

The journalist published a report on Monday in a local media outlet criticizing an Interior Ministry officer who was involved in the assault of a school principal.

Qaisi slammed the official for beating the principal in front of students and faculty members.

The head of the Baghdad-based Journalistic Freedoms Observatory Ziyad al-Ajeeli explained the account of the kidnapping from Qaisi’s family.

According to Ajeeli, eight gunmen, disguised as security forces, arrived at the journalist’s home in at least two pickup trucks.

The gunmen requested to search the house before breaking in and leaving with Qaisi, Ajeeli said.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ranks Iraq top of the list as the deadliest place in the world for reporters.

Several journalists have been targeted by militant groups in the past, and dozens killed while covering military operations in the country.

Since 1992, 256 journalists had been killed in Iraq, according to a CPJ survey.

Editing by Ava Homa