A court in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq sentenced three journalists and two activists to six years in prison on February 16, 2021, in deeply flawed proceedings, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday. The authorities continue to hold two other people despite a court ruling that there was insufficient evidence to try them. Human Rights […]
By John Lee. Iraq has fallen in the World Press Freedom Index for 2021, ranking 163rd out of 180 countries, down one place on last year. The result puts Iraq behind countries such as Turkey and Sudan, but ahead of Iran and Syria. First place went to Norway, with Eritrea coming last. Reporters Without Borders […]
From the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): 'Spaghetti against the wall': how flimsy evidence sent 2 Iraqi Kurdish journalists to jail for 6 years The case against Iraqi Kurdish journalists Sherwan Amin Sherwani and Guhdar Zebari was built on flimsy and circumstantial evidence, five observers of the journalists' Erbil trial last month told CPJ. Their six-year […]
By John Lee. Iraq continues to be listed as "not free" in Freedom House's latest Freedom in the World index. Scoring 29 points from a possible total of 100, Iraq does, however, rank considerably better than neighbouring Iran (16), Saudi Arabia (7), and Syria (1). Jordan scores better with 34, while Turkey also comes in […]
In response to [Tuesday's] sentencing of Iraqi Kurdish freelance journalists Sherwan Amin Sherwani and Guhdar Zebari to six years each in jail, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued the following statement: "Today's sentencing of journalists Sherwan Amin Sherwani and Guhdar Zebari is not only unfair and disproportionate, but it also proves that the […]
Wave of arrests of journalists covering protests in Iraqi Kurdistan Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns a wave of press freedom violations in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region, where at least 10 journalists have been arrested while covering peaceful protests during the past week, one has been placed in pre-trial detention and a regional TV channel, […]
By Belkis Wille, for Human Rights Watch (HRW). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Despite Prime Minister's Promises, Disappearances Continue in Iraq Since I started covering Iraq for Human Rights Watch in 2016, enforced disappearances have been one of my main areas […]
By Omar Sattar for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Activists fear Iraqi cybercrime law could limit press freedoms The Iraqi cybercrime bill makes a reappearance amid widespread objections by civilians and activists who label it as repressive of […]
Iraqi lawmakers are considering a draft law on information technology crimes that could be used to stifle free expression, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said this week. It says the bill includes vague provisions that will allow Iraqi authorities to harshly punish expression they decide constitutes a threat to governmental, social, or religious interests. More here. […]
By Amnesty International. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Mass execution of 21 individuals is an outrage Responding to the execution on Monday of 21 individuals in Iraq, including individuals allegedly affiliated to the Islamic State (IS) and convicted of terror-related charges, […]
By John Lee. Iraqi authorities should fulfill a commitment to locate victims of enforced disappearance and ensure that those responsible are held accountable, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday. Since taking office in May 2020, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi announced that his government was creating a new mechanism to locate victims of enforced disappearances, […]
Their voice, our equal future, time to focus on girls in Iraq 11th October marked the International Day of the Girl Child, a day dedicated to girls' empowerment, fulfilment of girls' rights and solving challenges that they face. This year, the global theme is "My Voice, Our Equal Future," a reminder to listen to girls […]
