Dutch journalist unhurt in Iraq shooting

4 June 2004

AMSTERDAM — A Dutch journalist in Iraq has escaped injury in a recent shooting incident, Dutch media has reported. Ismael Zayer and his wife, also a journalist, have been repeatedly threatened and their driver and bodyguard were murdered last week.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry held discussions on Friday with Zayer and his wife Anneke van Ammelrooy to arrange to bring them and their four teenage children to safety.

A ministry spokesperson confirmed the Dutch journalists union NVJ had requested help for the couple and their family.

Zayer is the chief editor of an independent Iraqi newspaper and Van Ammelrooy is a freelance journalist working for the weekly De Groene Amsterdammer.

It is not clear if Zayer was the target of the gun attack. Last week their chauffeur and a bodyguard were abducted and murdered in Baghdad.

Following the killings, the couple indicated they wanted to leave Iraq.

Zayer claimed last week that former agents of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein or opponents to his independent daily newspaper were responsible for the murders.

Subject: Dutch news + Iraq