Iraqi lawmakers approve legislation on protecting journalists

The Iraqi parliament approved a bill Tuesday aimed at strengthening journalists' rights and protection despite earlier objections by lawmakers on the draft law and adjustment during discussions. The law "aims to promote the rights of journalists and protect them in Iraq, " including the guarantee of such protection to union journalists and the rights to review reports and information officially published. "Journalists shall not be questioned or investigated for a crime attributed to them linked to the practice of journalism, except by judicial decision," according to the law. It also says newspapers cannot be prevented from publishing or be confiscated except by judicial decision. The Head of Cultural and Media Committee Member of Parliament Ali Al-Shalah said that the committee has benefited from French and Turkish legislations regarding the law concerning journalists, in addition to already established Iraqi law and amendments. Iraq has been ranked as one of the top dangerous places for journalists in the world, around 360 journalists were killed since 2003, a number which helped push put forward such legislation.