Iraqi security forces used tear gas and live bullets to disperse protesters in Basra
The casualty toll in Basra has “reached 68 injured, including 41 civilians and 27 members of the security forces, with five dead demonstrators.”
Iraqi authorities obstruct media coverage of protests
With arrests and intimidation of journalists and Internet blocking, coverage of a major wave of protests in Iraq since the start of the July has been difficult and dangerous for the media.
Covering corruption exposes journalists to arrest in Iraq
RSF condemns the arrests to which two investigative reporters have been subjected in different parts of Iraq in the past few days in connection with their coverage of corruption.
TV crews assaulted, detained covering protests in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq
The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Kurdistan Regional Government to investigate immediately attacks against local journalists covering regional protests.
IFJ and its affiliate the Kurdistan Journalists Union (KJS) call for press freedom ahead of Iraqi elections
“We call on the Iraqi authorities to investigate these attacks against the press and respect the right of journalists to report freely and safely,” said IFJ.
Kurdistan Regional Government detains protesters, suppresses criticism
The detained protesters were held for up to 8 days without being taken before a judge and were forced, before being released, to sign commitments not to protest or be critical of the government on social media.
Iraqi Kurdistan: The IFJ warns about media freedom violations in the region
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has denounced the multiple media freedom violations in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, documented in a new report by IFJ affiliate the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate.
Alarming violence against journalists in northern Iraq
RSF condemns the murder of a Kurdistan TV cameraman near Kirkuk and violence against media personnel by demonstrators in Erbil. The two separate incidents in the space of a few hours point to an alarming decline in the security of journalists in northern Iraq.
Media targeted in Kurdistan referendum tension
After the historic referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan on 25 September 2017 and the resulting tension at the local, regional and international levels, RSF reminds the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of the need to safeguard the right to criticise in what is now an increasingly uncertain political environment.
Shifting security situation for journalists in Iraq
Despite the decline of the Islamic State group’s presence in Iraq, the country is no more stable. The reemergence of Shia militias is blurring defined front lines and has elevated general risks for journalists in the region.
Mosul blast kills French and Kurdish journalists, injures others
RSF is deeply saddened to learn that an explosive device killed French journalist Stephan Villeneuve and Iraqi Kurdish journalist Bakhtiar Haddad while they were covering Iraqi counter-terrorist operations in Mosul.
Iraqi parliament slammed for bill restricting free speech
The law on “freedom of expression, opinion, assembly and peaceful demonstration” would require Iraqis to seek prior authorization from local authorities before protesting or assembling.
Armed forces in Iraqi Kurdistan shoot at protesters, killing one
“We have not seen any evidence that military forces in Sinjar had a legitimate reason to fire on protesters, who presented no apparent risk to their lives or others,” said Human Rights Watch.
Iraqi Kurdish journalist killed by roadside bomb in Mosul
Iraqi Kurdish reporter Shifa Zikri Ibrahim, known professionally as Shifa Gardi, was killed by a roadside bomb while covering the Iraqi Army’s offensive against the Islamic State group in western Mosul for the Kurdish TV station Rudaw.
Iraq shuts down internet to prevent cheating
For a third year in a row, Iraqi authorities shut down the internet to prevent students from cheating on exams.
Protect journalists covering Battle of Mosul
Following the deaths of two Iraqi journalists and injuries to 10 others during military offensive, authorities were urged to do everything possible to protect journalists in the field.