14 August 2026
The security detail of the Iraqi Minister of Oil prevented crews from several media organizations from covering the minister’s inauguration of oil wells at the Faihaa oil field in Basra Governorate.
Fadel Al-Battat, a correspondent for Al-Ahd TV, told the Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq that the Oil Minister’s security personnel, Bassem Mohammed Khudair, assaulted the channel’s crew in an inappropriate manner and used offensive language against them. He added that the incident occurred despite the crew having received an official invitation from the Governor of Basra to cover the Ministry of Oil’s activities in the governorate.
The correspondent said the security personnel confiscated his media identification badge and prevented a number of other journalists from entering the Faihaa oil field. He called on institutions concerned with defending journalists’ rights to take the necessary legal measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Meanwhile, crews from iNews, Al Mayadeen, UTV, and Al Rabiaa, who had also been invited to cover the Ministry’s event, said the Minister’s secretary prevented several journalists and media workers from entering, allegedly on the grounds of “avoiding putting the minister in an awkward position with questions concerning the oil sector.”
Several members of the five media organizations said the Ministry of Oil deals selectively with media outlets, questioning the criteria used to determine which journalists are allowed to cover official activities.
The Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq condemns the assault against media crews in Basra and calls on security forces and the security details assigned to government officials to respect freedom of the press and journalists’ right to carry out their professional duties without restrictions or intimidation, as these rights are constitutionally guaranteed.
The Association further stresses that state authority must not be used as a means of silencing voices or restricting media workers in an attempt to keep the media and the public away from facts and information.
