October 25, 2025
Security forces prevented crews from several media outlets from covering protests in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad.
Mohammed Al-Fareed, a correspondent for Al-Oula TV, told the Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq that security forces imposed a cordon around the protesters and barred media outlets from entering the area during the initial moments of the protest.
Al-Fareed added that the security forces responsible for protecting the protests claimed the restrictions were intended to protect media crews from potentially uncontrollable incidents involving protesters. He noted that crews from Al-Oula TV, Al-Dawla TV, Iraq Al-Hadath, Al-Mada, Al-Rasheed, and Al-Ghadeer were all prevented from covering the demonstration.
The Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq condemns the repeated restrictions imposed on journalists and media professionals while covering protests and public gatherings. The Association calls on security forces to respect the freedoms guaranteed under Articles 38 and 46 of the Iraqi Constitution. Such restrictions also contravene Article 332 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which criminalizes public officials or individuals entrusted with a public service who exceed the limits of their authority and misuse their powers to obstruct a right guaranteed by law.
The Association urges security forces to respect fundamental freedoms and refrain from abusing their authority or using security directives to restrict media outlets, regardless of the reasons given.
