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August 29, 2024August 29, 2024 – Iraq –
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in collaboration with MENA Rights Group and two Iraqi civil society organizations, has submitted a detailed report to the United Nations Human Rights Council ahead of Iraq’s fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR), scheduled for 2025. The joint submission raises alarm over Iraq’s deteriorating press freedom environment and a deepening culture of impunity for crimes against journalists.
The report outlines how Iraq has failed to uphold its previous UPR commitments, particularly regarding the safety and rights of journalists. Journalists in Iraq face increasing threats, including physical violence, intimidation, arbitrary detention, online harassment, and legal persecution through defamation and cybercrime laws. Public officials frequently use anti-media rhetoric, further endangering reporters and encouraging societal hostility toward the press.
CPJ highlights that Iraq ranks sixth on its Global Impunity Index, with at least 17 journalist murders since 2013 remaining unsolved. The authorities’ failure to investigate or prosecute those responsible has emboldened perpetrators and discouraged independent reporting, especially on sensitive topics such as corruption, security, and human rights violations.
The report also notes concerns over vague and repressive laws that allow for broad interpretations of national security and defamation, which are routinely used to silence dissent. Legal tools and digital surveillance have been wielded against journalists, undermining privacy and freedom of expression. The report calls for urgent reforms to dismantle this punitive legal framework and to create institutional mechanisms that protect journalists and uphold press freedom.
Among its key recommendations, CPJ and its partners urge the Iraqi government to investigate all attacks on journalists, repeal or revise laws that criminalize journalistic work, and publicly reaffirm the importance of a free and independent media. They also call on Iraq to establish independent oversight bodies to ensure accountability and protect civic space.
This submission to the UPR process serves as a crucial opportunity for the international community to hold Iraq accountable and push for structural reforms. As Iraq continues to face internal instability and human rights challenges, ensuring press freedom is vital for transparency, accountability, and democratic resilience.
Reference –
CPJ submits report on Iraq to UN’s human rights review – Committee to Protect Journalists