Tag Archives | press freedom

Video: Silencing the Critics - Iraq's Media Muzzle

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. When Haider al-Abadi took over as prime minister of Iraq in 2014, he lifted bans on media outlets that had been shuttered under the former administration. Less than two years later, press freedom […]

Journalists Targeted by Security Forces during Protests

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi Journalists Targeted By Security Forces During Green Zone Protests Last Friday demonstrators broke into Baghdad’s Green Zone a second time. Security forces were waiting for them - and the […]

Voice of America Journalist Beaten in Iraq

Voice of America (VOA) journalists were beaten and harassed by authorities in Pakistan and Iraq earlier this week. “I am appalled that these VOA journalists, who were only doing their job of reporting accurate information, were beaten and harassed by security forces,” VOA Director Amanda Bennett said. “Intimidation only generates an opposite effect. VOA will […]

ISIS Bans Satellite TV, Hunts Down Internet Users

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. ISIS Bans Satellite TV In Mosul, Hunts Down Internet Users The Islamic State has issued orders banning satellite TV because it spreads false news. They’re also demanding all Internet users’ […]

Why Journalists in Iraq face Death Threats

By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. To what extent can members of the media confidently say that freedom of the press in Iraq exists with so many threats made — and carried out — against journalists? These threats are well-documented […]

Al Jazeera Closure "a Blow to Free Speech", HRW

By Human Rights Watch. The closure of Al Jazeera’s Baghdad bureau by the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission is nothing but an effort to clamp down on freedom of expression. The commission should promptly reverse its decision and allow the bureau to operate freely in accordance with international standards on freedom of the media and […]

Iraq shuts down Al Jazeera Baghdad Bureau

The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has reportedly shut down the Baghdad bureau of Al Jazeera Media Network and banned its journalists from reporting in the country. According to a report from Al Jazeera, in a letter to the company on Wednesday, the CMC said it was withdrawing the licence that allowed Al Jazeera […]

Calls to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

“We urge the Iraqi authorities to take all necessary measures – through developing legislation, capacity building and adequate resources – to ensure that investigations and trials relating to crime against journalists in Iraq are undertaken”, declared UNESCO Representative to Iraq Axel Plathe (pictured), Human Rights Commissioner Athmar al Shatry and Iraqi Journalists Syndicate President Moaid […]

Human Rights Watch - "Protesters Beaten, Abducted"

Iraqi security forces have repeatedly beaten and violently dispersed protesters during anti-corruption demonstrations since August 2015 without any apparent justification, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement on Friday: In some instances, unidentified men in civilian clothes abducted and beat demonstrators. Prosecutors have failed to respond to judicial complaints lodged by victims of these […]

IWPR Director found Dead

By John Lee. The newly-appointed Iraq Director for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) has been found dead in suspicious circumstances at an Istanbul airport. Local media reported that British woman Jacky Sutton, aged 50, had missed a connecting flight to Erbil, didn't have enough money to purchase a replacement ticket, and was found […]

Getting Away With Murder

For the first time since the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) compiled the Impunity Index, Iraq is not ranked as the worldwide worst offender, as Somalia edged into that spot. Iraq's numbers of unsolved murders remain staggering -- 84 journalists have been slain with complete impunity over the last decade, far more than any other […]