July 16, 2025
The Rusafa Misdemeanor Court has issued a ruling sentencing Bassem Al-Sheikh, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Dustour newspaper, to prison following a lawsuit filed against him by the Head of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, Muayyad Al-Lami.
Al-Sheikh’s family, in a statement to the Association for the Defense of Press Freedom, expressed their shock at the issuance of a harsh sentence over an article he wrote in accordance with professional journalistic standards and in line with the Iraqi Constitution, which guarantees freedom of press and expression in all its forms.
The family confirmed that Bassem is currently being held at Bab Al-Muadham prison and is scheduled to be transferred tomorrow morning to Al-Safirat Prison, near Al-Shaab International Stadium. They pointed out that the initial ruling had only imposed a fine, but the Court of Cassation later issued a harsher sentence without considering his old age or deteriorating health conditions.
The Association had previously monitored several lawsuits filed by Muayyad Al-Lami, in his capacity as Head of the Journalists Syndicate and President of the Federation of Arab Journalists, against several journalists who opposed his bid for re-election and were actively working to mobilize internal reform ahead of the upcoming elections.
The Association for the Defense of Press Freedom expresses its full solidarity with Bassem Al-Sheikh and his family, who are currently facing severe psychological distress. The Association considers the sentencing of a newspaper editor for merely writing an opinion article as a severe regression in freedom of the press and expression—yet another alarming deviation from the spirit and essence of the Iraqi Constitution.
The Association reiterates its decade-long efforts advocating for reforming the inherited legal framework from the former dictatorial regime, which successive Iraqi parliaments, ruling parties, and political elites have persistently refused to amend—despite its clear contradiction with the current Constitution.
The Association also reminds the public of repeated claims by government officials that Iraq has no prisoners of conscience, at least in central and southern regions—yet here we are, witnessing the imprisonment of a newspaper editor over an opinion case.
Accordingly, the Association calls on all Iraqi journalists to take a unified stand in defense of press freedom, which is facing serious and escalating violations. It also urges the Iraqi Parliament to intervene and rescue journalists from this outdated and authoritarian legal system that suppresses free speech—rather than focusing solely on election preparations and narrow partisan interests.
Finally, the Association demands that Muayyad Al-Lami immediately withdraw the lawsuit he filed against Bassem Al-Sheikh.
