The government in Iraq accuses them of fueling the popular revolt that began on October 1st. Following a decision by the Iraqi Media and Communications Commission, a dozen Iraqi media have been forced to close their doors. In the country, 156th (out of 180) of the 2019 world press freedom index, journalists are furious.
The government accuses them, among other things, to urge people to take to the streets to demonstrate against power.
"To muzzle and prevent the media from playing their role shows that there is an imbalance in the democratic process," says Bassem al-Sheikh, a journalist for the daily Al-Dustour. "They try to hide facts from society and public opinion".
For Imad Abbadi, one of his colleagues, "it's even become a problem in Iraq, it's not just an internal problem in Iraq." Indeed, it explains that the closing of the media does not only involve the closing of satellite channels, but also "the interruption of the Internet".
Attacked by pro-government militias
The demonstrations in Iraq started on October 1st. The Iraqis, who have been in the streets since, blame the government for not being able to lower the unemployment rate, but also denounce the failure of public services and endemic corruption in the country.
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Hundreds of protesters left their lives there, killed in clashes with security forces. Thousands of other protesters were injured.
"Some parties that say they are worried about press freedom or the status of unions in the press have been lax enough to pave the way for repression in the existing media, whether in local or foreign media," explains Hashem Hassans, dean of the Faculty of Communication at Baghdad University.
In Iraq, which the international organization Reporters Without Borders considers dangerous for journalists, reporters are often attacked by pro-government militias. Murders of journalists are often left unpunished.