The United Nations strongly condemns the attacks that targeted journalists and media facilities in Baghdad on 1 April. “Assaults against media organizations or journalists are unacceptable under any circumstances," the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG) Mr. Kobler said, urging the government of Iraq to ensure that media professionals are protected […]
By Ali Abel Sadah for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. On Feb. 5, 2013, the Iraqi parliament responded to a campaign launched by activists against a proposed law criminalizing many means of circulating information. Iraqi lawmakers said that they will draft […]
By John Lee. Iraq has risen two places to rank 150th out of 179 countries in the World Press Freedom Index for 2013, but this followed a fall of 22 places last year. The security situation for journalists continues to be very worrying, with three killed in connection with their work in 2012 and seven […]
By Laith Hammoudi. This article was originally published by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, iwpr.net, and it is reproduced by Iraq Business News with permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A tough new law that could place severe restrictions […]
A new draft law on information technology crimes would restrict free speech in violation of international law and poses a severe threat to journalists, whistleblowers, and peaceful activists, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The pending law includes vague provisions that would allow Iraqi authorities to harshly punish expression they decide constitutes […]
The next general election in Iraq is not due until 2014, but Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki warned on Wednesday that he will call for early elections if the protracted negotiations over power sharing break down. If he could persuade more than half of the parliament to vote themselves out of a job and back on the […]
In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3rd May to be World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), a day which, among other objectives, serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. According to UNESCO figures, since 2008 a total of 26 Iraqi media workers have been killed, […]
Iraq has ranked worst on the Committee to Protect Journalists' Impunity Index for the fifth consecutive year. The Impunity Index calculates unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country's population. With more than 90 unsolved murders, Iraq's impunity rating dwarfs that of every other nation. "Most of the murders occurred as Iraq was immersed […]
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), has issued the following statement regarding proposed new law on "information technology crimes". (Please click here to download an English translation of the bill by the Centre for Law and Democracy): More than a year after the start of the "Arab Spring," large portions of the Middle East remain in […]
Iraq’s new media law, the product of several years of debate, is supposed to protect journalists, but it has been the subject of much controversy. Hazim al-Sharaa, an IWPR editor in Iraq, looks at why some fear the legislation will restrict rather than enhance freedom of speech. Can you describe the new media law? This […]
The United Kingdom's Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt (pictured), has described the assassination of an Iraqi journalist as deeply concerning, saying it threatened to undermine hard won freedoms. Speaking after a meeting with the Iraqi Human Rights Committee on Tuesday, he said: "I was shocked and saddened to hear of the assassination of […]
By the Centre for Law and Democracy. A Journalist Protection Law, prepared by the Iraqi Syndicate of Journalists and endorsed by the government of Iraq, has been laid before the Iraqi Parliament for its consideration. A Note on the draft Law prepared by CLD highlights the important protections for journalists included in the draft Law. […]
