Silencing the critics: Iraq's media muzzle

Baghdad's broken press promises; plus, reinventing the 24-hour wheel: TV news' fight for survival.


Iraq's media muzzle

When Haider al-Abadi took over as prime minister of Iraq in 2014, he lifted bans on media outlets that had been shuttered under the former administration.

Less than two years later, press freedom appears to be in decline once again – and critics say silencing the media is the government's way of dodging tough questions about political turmoil and the threat of ISIL.

Talking us through the story are: Rafid Jaboori, former spokesperson for the Iraqi PM; Ibrahim al-Marashi, assistant professor at California State University; Amal al-Jubouri, founder of Arab Human Rights Academy; and Ali al-Khalidi, presenter at Al Iraqiya TV.