4/7/2020
Members of the Information Unit of the Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital prevented the correspondent of Radio Al-Mirbad (Dhiaa Al-Mohjah) from entering the hospital for media coverage, this Saturday morning.
The reporter, Dhiaa, told the Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq that he was heading this morning on a press mission to cover the hospital building, established by the Hussaini Shrine for the purpose of health isolation for those affected by the Corona Virus epidemic, and he was surprised that he was prevented from passing and covering the event by members of the Information Unit.
Dhiaa further indicated that although he obtained official approvals from the Director General of the Diwaniyah Health Department, he was prevented from entering the hospital and he left the site immediately.
The Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq condemns preventing the journalist from performing his professional duty, and considers it a violation of the principles of freedom of journalistic work in the country.
The association also calls on all workers in health institutions to express flexibility in dealing with media cadres to perform their duties, to clear the way for them, and to cooperate with them instead of placing obstacles that make it difficult for the media to play its awareness and guidance role, especially in times of health crises.
