“A serious constitutional violation”: Objection to the ban on press coverage of the parliamentary session
“A serious constitutional violation”: Objection to the ban on press coverage of the parliamentary session
2026-10-15
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Two press freedom organizations condemned on Thursday the House of Representatives’ decision to prevent the media from covering the session to vote on completing the cabinet and the deputy prime ministers, considering it a restriction on journalistic work and a violation of the principle of open sessions.
The Iraqi Association for the Defense of Journalists’ Rights said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that it “strongly condemns” the decision of the Speaker of Parliament to prevent the media from covering its session held today, October 15.
The association considered the measure to be “a serious violation of the constitution and the law on journalists’ rights, and an infringement on the principle of open parliamentary sessions and the people’s right to know.”
The council presidency demanded an “immediate reversal” of the decision and a guarantee that it would not be repeated, holding it responsible for any restrictions on the freedom of journalistic work.
For its part, the Palm Center for Rights and Press Freedoms condemned the prevention of journalists from entering the House of Representatives building to cover the session, and considered this a “new and unjustified violation” of the freedom of journalistic work.
The center stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that a number of correspondents and journalists informed it that they were prevented from entering the council to perform their duties, without any security explanations or convincing professional justifications being provided, despite the exceptional importance of the session to public opinion.
The center affirmed its categorical rejection of this behavior, calling on the Speaker of Parliament and all relevant authorities to put an end to the “repeated practices,” respect journalistic work, and facilitate the tasks of media personnel.
The media department of the House of Representatives had informed journalists on Wednesday evening that they were prohibited from entering the session scheduled to be held on Thursday, which was dedicated to voting on the deputy prime ministers, vacant ministries, and newly created ministries.
shafaq.com
