By John Lee. Iraq has fallen in the World Press Freedom Index for 2020, ranking 162nd out of 180 countries, down six place on last year. The result puts Iraq behind countries such as Turkey and Sudan, but ahead of Iran and Libya. First place went to Norway, with North Korea coming last. Reporters Without […]
Tag Archives | press freedom
Iraq Lifts Suspension of Reuters' Licence
By John Lee. Iraq's Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has reportedly lifted its suspension of Reuters' licence to work in the country. The regulator had revoked the licence for three months and imposed a fine of 25 million dinars ($21,000) for what it said was the news agency's violation of the rules of media broadcasting. […]
President Salih: CMC Suspension of Reuters "Regretable"
By John Lee. Reuters has confirmed that Iraq's media regulator has suspended its licence after the news agency published a story saying the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country was higher than officially reported. The Communications and Media Commission (CMC) said it was revoking the licence for three months and imposing a fine […]
Tags: Barham Salih, censorship, Communications and Media Commission (CMC), featured, mn, press freedom, Reuters
Iraq Suspends Reuters over COVID-19 Report
Iraqi regulator suspends Reuters' license for 3 months over COVID-19 report Iraqi authorities should immediately reinstate the license of the Reuters news agency, and allow all media outlets to cover the COVID-19 pandemic freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), Iraq's media regulator, suspended Reuters' license for […]
Tags: censorship, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Communications and Media Commission (CMC), coronavirus, covid19, featured, mn, press freedom
Killers Target Activists performing Logistics for Protests
By Mustafa Saadoun for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Killers target activists performing logistics for Iraqi protests Forces opposed to the protests in Iraq appear to have stepped up operations to kill protest activists and journalists covering the demonstrations […]
Democracy in Iraq Depends on Press Freedom
By Ignacio Miguel Delgado Culebras, for Foreign Policy. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A group of armed men wearing black uniforms stormed into my house in Baghdad and abducted me,” Iraqi blogger Shojaa Fares al-Khafaji told me a few days […]
Iraq Clamps Down on Media Covering Protests
By Mustafa Saadoun for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq clamps down on media and broadcast networks covering protests For the first time, the Iraqi National Communications and Media Commission shut down or gave warnings to 17 media institutions for covering the […]
Iraq orders Closure of 12 News Outlets
Iraq's media regulator should reverse its decision to order the closure of 12 broadcasters over a licensing dispute and should allow media outlets to freely cover protests in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Monday. On November 12, the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), Iraq’s media regulator, ordered the closure of […]
Tags: censorship, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Communications and Media Commission (CMC), featured, Human rights, journalism, mn, press freedom
Arrests for Voicing Protest Solidarity
By John Lee. Authorities in Anbar governorate are suppressing the right of residents to show support for demonstrations elsewhere in the country, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said. In recent days, they have arrested two men for merely posting messages of solidarity on Facebook, questioned a third, and sent a fourth into hiding. More here. […]
Tags: Anbar, censorship, Facebook, featured, Human rights, Human Rights Watch (HRW), mn, press freedom, Protests, social media
US calls for Lifting of Restrictions on Iraqi Press
Press Statement by US Secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo (pictured), on the situation in Iraq: The United States welcomes any serious efforts made by the Government of Iraq to address the ongoing problems in Iraqi society. The Government of Iraq should listen to the legitimate demands made by the Iraqi people who have taken […]
CPJ: Journalists Injured and Detained, Broadcasters Banned
Journalists injured and detained, broadcasters banned as protests resume in Iraq On Tuesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned recent attacks on journalists and media outlets in Iraq, and urged authorities to ensure that journalists can cover the ongoing protests in the country safely and without obstruction. After a brief lull, anti-corruption and unemployment […]
Tags: censorship, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), featured, Human rights, journalism, mn, press freedom, Protests
Activists, Journalists "Leave Baghdad in Fear of Arrest"
By Mustafa Saadoun for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Civil society activists and journalists leave Baghdad in fear of being arrested On Oct. 9, an Iraqi journalist left Baghdad for Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, […]