How will the law affect journalists and their work?
Although the law mainly affects those working in the media, it is likely to affect the flow of information.
The document contains sweeping statements such as article four, which says that “journalists have the right to obtain information, news, data and statistics which are not restricted, from various sources, and have the right to publish them in accordance with the law”. But it does not spell out what “not restricted” or “in accordance with the law” mean, even though a journalist who is deemed to have contravened these loose definitions can be taken to court. This has led to warnings that journalists could find their freedom restricted.
While the 15,000-strong IJS backs the law, other groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, and the Iraqi Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, JFO, say the vague terminology offers little legal protection.
Reporters Without Borders has described the law as “pointless at best and dangerous at worst”.
Has the new law had any positive impact since it was enacted?
Iraq is still a very dangerous place for journalists to work, and critics say the media law falls far short of providing them with any real protection.
Media workers say they have seen no tangible benefits since the law was enacted. As of January 1, the JFO had recorded 15 violations of the rights of journalists working in Iraq, and said the new law had not been used to address these violations. The most recent case was on November 24, 2011, when a journalist was severely beaten and hospitalised in Diwaniya.
Journalists say they have not pressed for the law to be invoked because they have no confidence that it will be applied in their favour.
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