.Iraqis protest govt clampdown on free speech
BAGHDAD (Al Arabiya, Agencies)
Hundreds of Iraqis took to the streets on Friday to protest moves by the government to control the flow of information both in print and online, which has raised fears of a crackdown on free speech reminiscent of the regime of ex-dictator Saddam Hussein.
Some 200 Journalists, writers and booksellers demonstrated in Baghdad's Mutanabi Street in opposition of a governement decision to screen imported books that incite sectarianism and ban websites deemed pornographic or that encourage crimes such as bomb making, prostitution and "terrorism."
Intellectuals said they worried such moves were a sign that the years of freer expression could be coming to an end and journalists worried a new draft legislation being mulled leaves them exposed to government interference in their profession.
"Blocking internet websites and censoring books is a new dictatorship," said Muhammad al-Rubaie, a human rights activist.
"They want to stop the free word from unveiling corruption. We will work in parliament to cancel any censorship that limits the freedom of expression," the head of Iraq's Integrity Commission in parliament, Sabah al-Saedi, said.
Iraq's 2005 constitution enshrines freedom of the press and publication unless they "violate public order or morality."
"Journalists and media workers have lost 247 of their colleagues over the past six years because of attacks and violations," journalist and writer Emad al-Khafaji told the crowd.
"The participants in this demonstration have confirmed they will not back down in the face of intimidation and threats."
The crowd, carrying banners through the heart of the capital's cultural district, shouted: "Yes, yes to freedom; no, no to being muzzled."
Al Arabiya
Who the hell told Iraqis that they had any speech rights to worry about anyway. Why don't they shut the fuck up and sit down like the rest of the good Arabs...
Hundreds of Iraqis took to the streets on Friday to protest moves by the government to control the flow of information both in print and online, which has raised fears of a crackdown on free speech reminiscent of the regime of ex-dictator Saddam Hussein.
Some 200 Journalists, writers and booksellers demonstrated in Baghdad's Mutanabi Street in opposition of a governement decision to screen imported books that incite sectarianism and ban websites deemed pornographic or that encourage crimes such as bomb making, prostitution and "terrorism."
Intellectuals said they worried such moves were a sign that the years of freer expression could be coming to an end and journalists worried a new draft legislation being mulled leaves them exposed to government interference in their profession.
"Blocking internet websites and censoring books is a new dictatorship," said Muhammad al-Rubaie, a human rights activist.
"They want to stop the free word from unveiling corruption. We will work in parliament to cancel any censorship that limits the freedom of expression," the head of Iraq's Integrity Commission in parliament, Sabah al-Saedi, said.
Iraq's 2005 constitution enshrines freedom of the press and publication unless they "violate public order or morality."
"Journalists and media workers have lost 247 of their colleagues over the past six years because of attacks and violations," journalist and writer Emad al-Khafaji told the crowd.
"The participants in this demonstration have confirmed they will not back down in the face of intimidation and threats."
The crowd, carrying banners through the heart of the capital's cultural district, shouted: "Yes, yes to freedom; no, no to being muzzled."
Al Arabiya
Who the hell told Iraqis that they had any speech rights to worry about anyway. Why don't they shut the fuck up and sit down like the rest of the good Arabs...
posted by madtom at 9:08 AM
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