This report documents escalating violations against journalists in Iraq, including the kidnapping of Shelly Kittleson, arbitrary arrests, physical assaults, and coverage bans. IOHR criticizes CMC’s administrative restrictions, warning that eroding press freedom and impunity undermine democracy. It calls for urgent legal reforms to protect media workers from systematic repression and intimidation.
April 12, 2026
The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) stated that recent weeks have witnessed a dangerous escalation in the pace of violations against journalists and media workers in Iraq. This occurs within a context characterized by overlapping security and political factors, and a decline in legal guarantees for freedom of expression and journalistic work. This escalation comes amidst a turbulent media environment, where official and unofficial restrictions are increasing, and the space for free and independent work is shrinking.
On March 31, 2026, independent American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped from Al-Saadoon Street in central Baghdad by gunmen in civilian clothing. Kittleson was taken to an unknown destination, and her location was later revealed in the Jurf al-Nasr district (formerly "Jurf al-Sakhar").
Before her release on April 7, a video was released containing "forced confessions," a scene that brought back old fears regarding the use of kidnapping as a tool for political and security pressure.
Kittleson was released as part of an exchange deal that included the release of members of an armed faction. This incident does not only represent an individual violation but reflects a distressing pattern of targeting journalists, especially those working independently or handling sensitive files.
The Kittleson incident was not isolated. On April 6, 2026, journalist Mohammed Amin, working for "Al-Rabiaa" satellite channel, was arrested while attempting to cover the gas crisis in Karbala province. He was accompanied by his colleague, cameraman Aqeel Al-Ardawi, who provided video testimony to the IOHR. According to information, he was taken to the Al-Hussein neighborhood police station, where his equipment and personal phone were confiscated, and he was forced to sign a pledge not to address the crisis before being released.
The day before, Minas Al-Suhail, a correspondent for "Al-Sharqiya" channel in Baghdad, was subjected to a physical assault by security personnel at "Baghdad Mall" while covering celebrations for the Iraqi national team's qualification for the World Cup. A video clip published by IOHR documents the moment of the brutal assault against the local channel's correspondent.
This incident reflects a repeated pattern of using temporary detention as a tool of intimidation and preventing media coverage of service-related issues or protests, which undermines the role of the press in oversight and accountability.
On April 8, 2026, journalists Mustafa Al-Shammari, a correspondent for "Al-Taghier" channel, and Noor Al-Tamimi, a correspondent for "Al-Sharqiya" channel, were subjected to physical assault and verbal insults in the city of Basra while covering popular demonstrations. A video clip published by the IOHR documented the moment of the assault, where security forces attempted to intervene to protect them from the attackers.
Additionally, the crew of "Rudaw" channel in Kirkuk was subjected to a beating by elements of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) on March 12, 2026, while covering a shelling incident. The filming site was stormed, and the camera was knocked to the ground to prevent the documentation of ambulance operations.
The IOHR also recorded repeated cases of preventing journalists from performing their work. On March 17, 2026, a security force prevented "Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath" correspondent Muntadhar Rashid from broadcasting live in Baghdad during the activation of the air defense system near the U.S. Embassy.
Furthermore, a number of correspondents for satellite channels were prevented from entering the Iraqi Parliament building on March 8, 2026, reflecting a clear restriction on the coverage of official institutions and limiting the transparency of parliamentary work.
During a testimony to the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR), a correspondent in the Parliament, who could not be named for fear of being barred from entry again, said: "Some employees or members of the Parliament Presidency control our work. According to their mood, they sometimes prevent our entry and sometimes restrict us. They deal with the media with a sense of superiority."
Alongside field violations, a series of decisions issued by the Media and Communications Commission (CMC) emerged, which the IOHR considers part of a broader restrictive policy. The Commission issued official warnings to "Al Jazeera English" and "Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath" at the end of March 2026, obliging them to delete reports deemed contrary to the government’s orientation.
It also issued decisions banning a number of media figures and political commentators from media appearances, including Ghaith Al-Tamimi (for one year), Hussam Al-Taie (90 days), Nizar Haider (30 days), Najah Mohammed Ali (45 days), and Abdullah Al-Jughaifi (45 days), in addition to issuing a warning to program presenter Sahar Abbas Jamil.
Field Testimonies
Mustafa Al-Shammari, correspondent for Al-Taghier channel in Basra, says: "We were only doing our job. We were documenting protests in front of the Kuwaiti Consulate, and suddenly we found ourselves a target for beatings and insults."
Another journalist from Kirkuk, who fears mentioning his name, adds: "The danger is no longer only from conflict zones, but from everywhere. You can be attacked by any party, at any moment, without real protection."
Mustafa Saadoon, President of the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR), stated: "What we are witnessing today is a gradual and dangerous erosion of press freedom in Iraq. Violations are no longer an exception but have become part of a daily reality faced by journalists, in light of the absence of accountability and weak legal protection."
He added: "Kidnapping, detention, beating, and administrative bans are all tools used to restrict journalistic work. If these phenomena are not dealt with seriously, Iraq is threatened with losing one of the most important pillars of the democratic system."
These violations indicate a complex reality experienced by the press in Iraq, where political pressures overlap with security threats in an environment lacking actual guarantees for the protection of journalists. Although there is a significant margin of freedom compared to some countries in the region, it is gradually shrinking with the increasing use of legal and administrative tools to restrict the media, alongside the continued phenomenon of impunity.
Journalists face multiple challenges, including the weakness of union institutions, the absence of protection mechanisms, political interference in the work of media outlets, as well as security risks associated with field coverage.
The Iraqi Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and the press; however, practical reality reveals a large gap between the text and its application. Existing laws, such as the Iraqi Penal Code No. 111 of 1969, include articles used to criminalize freedom of expression, especially regarding "insulting authorities" or "publishing information that harms public security."
Furthermore, the decisions of the Media and Communications Commission, which is supposed to be an independent regulatory body, are often used to impose restrictions on media content without clear standards or effective appeal mechanisms.
The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) believes that there is an urgent need to reform the legal framework for regulating media work in a way that ensures the protection of journalists and prevents the use of laws as tools to restrict freedoms.
The IOHR calls for urgent measures to protect journalists, hold those responsible for violations accountable, and ensure the independence of media institutions. It also emphasizes that press freedom is not a luxury, but a fundamental condition for any democratic system, and that protecting journalists is the responsibility of both the state and society.
