Freedom of expression increasingly curtailed in Kurdistan Region of Iraq - UN report Freedom of expression in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has been increasingly curtailed over the past year, according to a UN report issued on Wednesday. Critics of public authorities have risked not only intimidation, restrictions on their movements and arbitrary arrests, but […]
Tag Archives | press freedom
Tags: censorship, featured, Human rights, Kurdistan News, mn, press freedom, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations (UN), United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)
KRI Court upholds Jail Terms for Journalists
In response to the Erbil Court of Cassation's recent decision to uphold the six-year jail sentences of Iraqi Kurdish journalists Sherwan Amin Sherwani and Guhdar Zebari, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued the following statement: "With the Erbil Court of Cassation's decision to uphold the six-year jail sentences of journalists Sherwan Amin Sherwani and […]
Tags: censorship, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), featured, Human rights, journalism, Kurdistan News, mn, press freedom
HRW: "Flawed Trial of Journalists, Activists" in KRI
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 […]
Iraq Falls Further in World Press Freedom Index
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 […]
Tags: censorship, featured, Human rights, journalism, mn, press freedom, Press Freedom Index, Reporters Sans Frontières, Reporters Without Borders, RSF
UNESCO trains Police on Dangers to Iraqi Women Journalists
UNESCO Iraq trains female police officers to respond to the dangers and threats facing Iraqi women journalists Within the multi-donor program MDP grant, UNESCO Iraq Office, CI, organized a three-day training course targeting 18 police officers from the Crimes Against Journalists Investigation Unit. This session comes as part of UNESCO's efforts to strengthen the national […]
Tags: featured, Iraqi Police, journalism, mn, Police, press freedom, UNESCO, United Nations (UN), Women
How "Flimsy Evidence" sent Iraqi Kurdish Journalists to Jail
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 […]
Tags: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), featured, Human rights, journalism, KRG, Kurdistan News, press freedom
Iraqi Kurdish Court Sentences Journalists to Jail
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 […]
RSF Condemns Arrests of Journalists in Iraqi Kurdistan
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, […]
Tags: censorship, featured, Human rights, journalism, KRG, Kurdistan News, mn, NRT TV, press freedom, Reporters Sans Frontières, Reporters Without Borders, RSF
Activists fear Iraqi Cybercrime Law could Limit Press Freedom
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 […]
HRW: Scrap Bill to Restrict Free Speech
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. […]
Iraqi Kurdish Police Arrest Journalist for "Defamation"
From the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): Iraqi Kurdish police arrest journalist Bahroz Jaafer over criminal defamation suit filed by Iraq's president Kurdish authorities in Iraq should immediately release journalist Bahroz Jaafer, drop all charges against him, and allow the press to cover and write critically about politicians without fear of detention or legal action, […]
Tags: Barham Salah, Barham Saleh, Barham Salih, censorship, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), featured, Human rights, Kurdistan News, mn, Police, press freedom
Arrest Warrant for owner of Iraqi Broadcaster
Baghdad court issues arrest warrant for owner of Iraqi broadcaster Dijlah TV Iraqi authorities should immediately drop the arrest warrant for Jamal Karbouli, the Iraqi owner of Amman-based Dijlah TV, and allow Dijlah TV to operate freely and without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Tuesday. Dijlah TV has an […]