(Photo: Al-Sudani's media office)
Monitor
Iraqi PM meets satellite TV hosts, discusses government performance, press freedom
BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani met Wednesday with a group of broadcast news anchors and journalists from Iraqi satellite channels, discussing government performance, regional developments, and the media’s role in shaping public discourse.
According to a statement from Al-Sudani’s media office, the prime minister “emphasized the essential role of media in informing the public and upholding transparency,” adding that journalism is “an essential partner in identifying shortcomings and offering solutions.”
Press freedom in Iraq took a sharp downturn throughout 2024, marked by heightened violence, intimidation, and legal harassment of journalists, the Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq reported. From Jan. 1 to Oct. 2, 2024, the group documented 457 violations against journalists and media outlets, including murders, arbitrary detentions, armed attacks, physical assaults, threats, lawsuits, and restrictions on news coverage.
Statement from Al-Sudani’s media office:
Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani met on Wednesday evening with a group of political TV program hosts from various Iraqi satellite channels.
The meeting featured a constructive dialogue on issues related to government performance and the role of executive institutions. The Prime Minister emphasized the essential role of media in informing the public and upholding transparency, describing journalism and media as an essential partner in identifying shortcomings and offering solutions.
Prime Minister Al-Sudni also addressed a number of questions raised by attendees regarding government performance, public affairs, developments in the region, and Iraq’s principled stances in foreign policy matters.
Prime Minister Al-Sudani directed to drop all legal complaints filed against journalists in cases involving offensive statements or allegations that exceeded the accepted boundaries of freedom of expression.
