Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Iraqi MPs threaten to close news channel, newspaper
Media, Politics
A statement by the Iraqi parliament urges Prime Minister Nour al-Maliki to close down Azzaman newspaper. The statement also asks Maliki to ban Al-Sharqiya television, the nation-wide network operated in coordination with Azzaman newspaper. The statement issued Monday cites what the parliament describes the outlets’ coverage of a recent draft law the legislators passed on turning the country into a federal state. Both the newspaper and al-Sharqiya television were critical of the law, warning that it represents a prelude to the division of the country on sectarian and ethnic grounds.
Azzamman is Iraq’s most read newspaper. Al-Shariqiya is the most viewed television network in the country. It is not clear whether Maliki will heed the parliament’s request which is not binding. Saad Bazzaz, who heads the media group that includes Azzaman and Al-Sharqiya, said those seeking the closure of the two outlets wanted to “muzzle the mouth of free press” in Iraq. Al-Sharqiya's offices are spread across the country. Azzaman has several editions inside Iraq as it is now being printed in both Baghdad and Basra. Both news outlets have a mild secular, Arab nationalist tone.
