BAGHDAD (Al Arabiya, Agencies)
Hundreds of Iraqis took to the streets on Friday to protest moves by the government to control the flow of information both in print and online, which has raised fears of a crackdown on free speech reminiscent of the regime of ex-dictator Saddam Hussein.
Some 200 Journalists, writers and booksellers demonstrated in Baghdad's Mutanabi Street in opposition of a governement decision to screen imported books that incite sectarianism and ban websites deemed pornographic or that encourage crimes such as bomb making, prostitution and "terrorism."
" Blocking internet websites and censoring books is a new dictatorship " Iraqi human rights activist Intellectuals said they worried such moves were a sign that the years of freer expression could be coming to an end and journalists worried a new draft legislation being mulled leaves them exposed to government interference in their profession.
"Blocking internet websites and censoring books is a new dictatorship," said Muhammad al-Rubaie, a human rights activist.
"They want to stop the free word from unveiling corruption. We will work in parliament to cancel any censorship that limits the freedom of expression," the head of Iraq's Integrity Commission in parliament, Sabah al-Saedi, said.
Iraq's 2005 constitution enshrines freedom of the press and publication unless they "violate public order or morality."
"Journalists and media workers have lost 247 of their colleagues over the past six years because of attacks and violations," journalist and writer Emad al-Khafaji told the crowd.
"The participants in this demonstration have confirmed they will not back down in the face of intimidation and threats."
The crowd, carrying banners through the heart of the capital's cultural district, shouted: "Yes, yes to freedom; no, no to being muzzled." |
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Media fine " They want to stop the free word from unveiling corruption. We will work in parliament to cancel any censorship that limits the freedom of expression " The head of the Integrity Commission in parliament Under Saddam, heavy censorship was the norm. State propaganda dominated the media, glorifying the government and demonizing enemies like the United Sates, Iran and Israel.
Since the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, a proliferation of media has given Iraqis a choice between some 200 print outlets, 60 radio stations and 30 TV channels in Arabic, Turkmen, Syriac and two Kurdish dialects.
Yet most media outlets remain dominated by sectarian and party patrons who use them for their own ends.
The government occasionally threatens to close the offices of media outlets that have offended it such as a recent incident when a television station was fined for a "personal attack" against Baghdad's military spokesman.
Other countries in the Middle East also ban some websites that incite hatred or are seen to go against the moral codes of the country. |
