(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: IRAQI LAWS THREATEN DEMOCRACY A free, independent and pluralistic media is vital to the rebuilding of Iraq as a democratic society, ARTICLE 19 says in a report released today. But numerous laws dating from the Hussein era as well as measures introduced by the […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
IRAQI LAWS THREATEN DEMOCRACY
A free, independent and pluralistic media is vital to the rebuilding of Iraq as a democratic society, ARTICLE 19 says in a report released today. But numerous laws dating from the Hussein era as well as measures introduced by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) pose a grave danger to the lasting development of a free media.
The ARTICLE 19 Report exposes the legacy of harsh laws imposed by the Ba’ath Party that seriously violate freedom of expression, as well as several measures introduced by the CPA itself that restrict rather than promote free expression. The report also signals that a significant change in Iraqi political culture is needed. Politicians and other public figures need to appreciate the implications of a free media in a democratic society, which will expose them to intense scrutiny and sometimes harsh criticism.
Toby Mendel, Director of ARTICLE 19’s Law Programme, says:
“Decades of Ba’ath party dictatorship have left a harsh legacy of laws that repress free expression and that, as long as they remain on the books, pose a significant threat to independent and critical journalism. For example, under criminal law a journalist who insults any part of the population is liable to be sent to prison for up to ten years. Such laws have a serious chilling effect as they may be invoked at any time.”
“In addition, since taking over the CPA has introduced harsh measures of its own, banning publications it deems inflammatory and restricting the right to free assembly. These measures are incompatible with the CPA’s stated aim to bring democracy to Iraq and must be repealed.”
ARTICLE 19 calls on the coalition authorities to act now to repeal or suspend criminal and other laws that unduly restrict free expression, to take steps to guarantee the independence of the Iraqi Media Network, to establish a freedom of information regime and to abolish all regulatory and censorship functions of the ministry of culture and information.
The full report summary is available on the ARTICLE 19 website at http://www.article19.org/docimages/1721.doc
