Journalists, NGOs oppose 'dangerous' Access to Information bill

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - As Iraq's parliament prepares to vote on a new Right to Information bill, a coalition of journalists and NGOs has issued an urgent plea for its revision.

In an open letter, they contend that the draft law contains "dangerous articles" that threaten press freedom and hamper anti-corruption efforts.

Wassam Jaafar, president of the Communications Organization, argues that the bill empowers officials to classify information arbitrarily, thereby shielding potential corruption from public scrutiny.

He notes that the government already restricts journalistic access to crucial documents under the guise of state security and economic concerns.

Hadi al-Salami, a member of parliament, acknowledges the criticism and assures that the concerns of journalists, citizens, and trade unions will be considered in the next reading of the bill.

Legal expert Habib Qurashi, however, maintains that the current draft fundamentally obstructs information access rather than facilitating it, a stance echoed by many journalists and NGOs.

They point to specific provisions that grant officials wide discretion in classifying information and concealing certain data, a move they argue contradicts both the Iraqi constitution and international standards.

The coalition is urging a comprehensive review of the bill and extensive consultations with stakeholders, including civil society organizations and journalists, to ensure its alignment with democratic principles and the public's right to know.