Freedom of Speech

Yesterday, 09:43

The Screen Under Guardianship

This report documents how regulatory measures, regulatory in origin, have grown into control over who speaks in Iraqi media, for how many days they are silenced, and which narrative news outlets are asked to adopt. Among the measures documented are 25 decisions barring individuals from appearing in the media, three of them for a full year. In the count of the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR), the Commission has imposed about 2,020 days of silence in total, more than five and a half years.

5-09-2026, 21:34

Raid on Civil Assembly Signals Imminent Threat to Iraq's Freedom of Assembly

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights expresses concern over the storming of an Iraqi Democracy Observatory preparatory meeting in Baghdad on 4 September 2026, followed by security forces entering the building without judicial authorization, in violation of Articles 17 and 38 of the Constitution. IOHR calls for an urgent, transparent investigation, accountability for violators, and affirms solidarity with civil society.

31-08-2026, 12:15

Concerns Over Warrantless Monitoring of Iraqis' WhatsApp Accounts

This statement warns of information received by the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) indicating that security bodies are moving to monitor Iraqi citizens' WhatsApp accounts without judicial warrants, in violation of Article 40 of the Constitution. IOHR calls for every surveillance measure to rest on a warrant from a competent judge, protecting all Iraqis.

21-08-2026, 14:10

Why Is a Broadcaster Banned Over Words He Never Said?

IOHR disputes the CMC's decision punishing presenter Ahmed Al-Tayeb for a guest's words he didn't say. The penalty—suspending the show and barring him—violates international standards protecting journalists. IOHR demands rescinding the ban, lifting the suspension, and establishing clear written rules confining responsibility to actual speakers, not broadcasters.

3-05-2026, 11:20

Press Freedom in Iraq: The Return to Intimidation

This is the position of the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights on press freedoms in Iraq, highlighting a severe decline since 2003, where repression against journalists has become systematic through laws, prosecutions, and administrative measures. It warns of rising digital censorship and widespread impunity, stressing that this trajectory threatens freedom of expression, pluralism, and the public’s right to information.

12-04-2026, 11:23

Journalism in Iraq: Reporting from the Red Zone

This report documents escalating violations against journalists in Iraq, including the kidnapping of Shelly Kittleson, arbitrary arrests, physical assaults, and coverage bans. IOHR criticizes CMC’s administrative restrictions, warning that eroding press freedom and impunity undermine democracy. It calls for urgent legal reforms to protect media workers from systematic repression and intimidation.

6-04-2026, 13:08

CMC Bans Political Commentators and Warns Media Outlets

IOHR warns of a severe decline in freedoms during early 2026, as the CMC transformed into a punitive tool restricting expression through arbitrary bans on journalists and international outlets. This systematic trend, based on vague terminology, violates Article 38 of the Constitution and threatens "Civic Desertification," undermining political and social pluralism throughout the country.

15-02-2026, 10:50

Dhi Qar: Books on Trial

This statement addresses the suppression of cultural freedoms in Dhi Qar. IOHR documented the arbitrary arrest of activist Ayman Ammar and the cancellation of the "Nasiriyah Taqra" festival over book contents. We consider this security encroachment a constitutional violation and demand the immediate release of detainees and an end to the crackdown on civil initiatives.

11-02-2026, 11:15

Basra: Systematic Erosion of Civic Space and the Rise of "Moral Guardianship"

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) documents a systematic erosion of Basra's civic space due to extremist groups imposing "moral guardianship" via unregulated weapons, mimicking regional hardline models. The report highlights a double standard: suppressing arts while ignoring pollution crises, amid tribal influence that undermines the law, threatening the city's identity with "civic desertification."