“This report includes a copy of the draft law and the proposed amendment in Arabic”

Baghdad, 10 August 2016

Iraqi civil society again faces the threat of legislation that could limit freedom of expression in Iraq. Recently a draft of a law on the freedom of expression that was discussed in the Iraqi Parliament included several paragraphs detrimental to freedom of expression in Iraq.  Iraqi Parliament is only a step away from adopting the law. It would bring great damage to Iraqi civil society. Activists are therefore organizing as a team in order to face this threat.

At the start of this month the Iraqi Union for Freedom of Expression held a consultative session at the Iraqi Women Journalists Forum in Baghdad. The session participants included Mwatana Organization for Human Rights, The National Union, The Iraqi Social Forum, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq, the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI) and the Iraqi Women Journalists Forum. These are the founders of the Union.

The consultative session discussed to thoroughly study the new law by experts and youth from different fields, such as the workers’ union, in order to organize a civil society campaign. Participants agreed the need for coordination between concerned organizations through a joint civil society statement.

A seminar by the Iraqi Union of Freedom of Expression will be held on 13 August at 10am at the Iraqi Women Journalists Forum in Baghdad in Shahrazad Centre. The aim is to conduct research on legal reform and the role of civil society to bring amendments to the the law on freedom of expression.

To see the full law and the proposed amendments Click here

For more information please contact the Iraqi Union for Freedom of Expression by sending an email to shahrazad@iraqicivilsociety.org

Or visit the Iraqi Union for Freedom of Expression page here.