Iraqi journalist, writer, and media researcher Firas Saadoon is the first ICORN resident in Sandefjord

Saadoon began his professional career in Baghdad in 2004, shortly after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. At the time, he worked for Al-Iraq Al-Youm (“Iraq Today”), one of the first Iraqi newspapers to be published after Hussein’s fall. Later, he transitioned to field television reporting, which advanced his career as a journalist. From 2009 to 2010, Firas served as a correspondent for Al-Sumaria TV, then the most widely viewed Iraqi channel.

In a very short period of time, Saadoon established himself as one of Baghdad’s most prominent field correspondents covering security affairs. It was an extremely demanding and dangerous assignment, unfolding amid the U.S. occupation, daily terrorist attacks, armed clashes, and targeted assassinations. Despite these conditions, Saadoon worked to bring political realities to the public while also reporting as a journalist committed to freedom of expression, human rights, and civil protest movements, as well as covering national elections.

As a political correspondent at the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Saadoon conducted a pioneering study titled “Role of Iraqi satellite channels in political issues priority scheduling for members of the House of Representatives of Iraq", based on direct interviews with 147 parliamentarians. The study was a rare undertaking, given the difficulty of gaining access to such a large number of politicians and persuading them to take part in a structured, methodologically rigorous survey. His research led to a master's degree in radio and television journalism from the University of Baghdad, which has been recognised internationally.

Alongside his work in journalism, Firas also taught and lectured on news writing and editorial practice in Baghdad. He served as a trainer at the Media Training Institute and participated in numerous training programmes and workshops with universities and international media organisations, including France 24, Monte Carlo Doualiya (MCD), and Radio France Internationale (RFI).

In 2012, Firas led a dedicated and courageous team of journalists as editor-in-chief of the Iraqi newspaper Al-Aalam, one of the few media outlets at the time that operated outside the framework of government and parties' control.

During that time, Saadoon published a series of investigative reports and over 80 opinion articles critical of the government and armed political factions. His work challenged intimidation and repression, exposed entrenched financial and administrative corruption, and highlighted their role in the decline of public services. He also addressed sensitive and often taboo subjects, such as incest and so-called “honour crimes”, and the official silence surrounding them. Due to the newspaper’s bold reporting, Firas and his team faced serious threats. This pressure resulted in the paper’s closure in 2013 and the erasure of its entire archive.

Despite these challenges, Firas and his colleagues persisted and founded the online newspaper Al-Aalam Al-Jadeed (“The New World”), with Firas as its first editor-in-chief. However, their uncompromising journalism was unacceptable to ruling parties and affiliated militias, leading to escalating threats from various groups and individuals. As a result, Firas and his family were forced to leave Baghdad and relocate to Istanbul in 2013-2014.

Over the next eleven years in Turkey, Firas collaborated with Iraqi and international newspapers, television channels, news agencies, and media production companies. He produced reports and feature stories and led editorial teams in major newsrooms and political programs.

He has also appeared as a commentator on several Arab and international media outlets, including France 24, Monte Carlo Doualiya, and Germany’s Deutsche Welle. His commentary covers developments in Iraq and the Middle East, as well as journalism, freedom of expression, and human rights.

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Firas Saadoon’s first year in Sandefjord

In March 2025, Firas and his family arrived in Norway as the first ICORN resident in Sandefjord. Hosted by the city’s public library, Firas continues his work, alongside settling into life in Norway.

The Sandefjord Library introduced Sadoon to the public in October 2025 through a one-hour conversation, part of the event “Literature Time: Life and Literature in War”, hosted by Norwegian journalist Mona B. Riise. The event covered his life and journalistic career; the challenges of politics and security; and how he managed to work and survive in war zones amid car bombs and ongoing threats.

On 31 January 2026, Firas performed a spoken piece with musician Øystein Trollsås at Hjertnes Kulturhus during the Speil event, part of the Sandefjord Municipality’s awards ceremony.

On February 24, 2026, the Norwegian Museum of Photography, Preus Museum, published two texts by Firas on a photographic series featured in the exhibition Hjem: Perspektiver. This exhibition showcases works by Ukrainian artists from various generations and runs until the end of September 2026

A valuable asset in his reporting on Iraq and regional affairs, Firas speaks four languages- his native Arabic, as well as English, Turkish, and Persian- and is currently also learning Norwegian.

Firas is pursuing several journalistic and literary projects while expanding his professional network. Based in Norway, he aims to engage audiences and contribute to public discussions across various platforms.

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Sandefjord ICORN City of Refuge

The City of Sandefjord is located in Vestfold County, Southeastern Norway. After signing the ICORN Membership Agreement in 2021, Sandefjord joined the network and began its activities within ICORN's framework.

The Sandefjord Library is directly responsible for inviting a writer, artist, or journalist at risk as an ICORN resident, as well as hosting them and coordinating their professional activities for a period of two years.

In March 2025, Sandefjord successfully welcomed Iraqi journalist, writer, and media researcher Firas Saadoon as its first ICORN resident.