Press freedom group condemns move as a warning to critics of the prime minister


June 24, 2012

An Iraqi press freedom group has condemned authorities for ordering the closure of 44 news organisations, including a US-funded radio station.

No media outlet is reported to have been forced to close so far but critics say the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is sending a warning to the media.

The dispute calls into question the future of Iraq's fledgling democracy, nine years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and six months after the last of the US troops who overthrew him withdrew.

Ziyad al-Aajely, the head of the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, called the move to shut down media offices "a setback to the freedom of journalism in Iraq."

"It is a government message to the media outlets that if you are not with us, then you are against us," he said by telephone.

The list, which officials say was compiled a month ago, only became public on Sunday.

Most of the 44 newspapers, radio and television stations targeted for shutdown are Iraqi, although foreign broadcasters including the BBC and Voice of America are on the list as well as the US-funded Radio Sawa. The BBC and Voice of America have closed most permanent news operations in Iraq.

Safaa Rabie, the head of Iraq's communications and media commission, confirmed the commission had forwarded the list to the interior ministry seeking help in shutting the offices down but said it was only targeting unlicensed operations.

"It is an organisational matter, not a crackdown on the press," he said.

However, one broadcaster targeted for closure, US-funded Radio Sawa, said it did have a licence.

"We were surprised to see our radio station on the list because we think that we work in accordance with all Iraqi laws," the Sawa deputy director Salah Nasrawi said.

Radio Sawa – operated by Middle East Broadcasting Networks, which is funded by the US Congress – was broadcasting normally on Sunday. An official with the Jordan-based satellite television station al-Babelyia also said his organisation had a valid operating licence in Iraq but was nevertheless on the list.

While some of the news organisations are critical of the government, including Sarqiya and Baghdadia television stations, others are religious broadcasters and have no apparent political agenda.

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