Shafaq News- Baghdad
Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) on Sunday banned twotelevision presenters from appearing on media outlets operating in the countryfor 90 days, citing violations of broadcasting rules.
Documents released by the Commission show that Ahmed Mulla Talal wasbarred, while his program “With Mulla Talal” on UTV Channel was exempted andmay continue with a replacement host.
CMC’s Media Regulation Department pointed to a Facebook post publishedby Mulla Talal on June 27, 2026, regarding Iraq’s participation in the WorldCup, which was deemed offensive to the Iraqi state and in breach of mediabroadcasting regulations.
Talal had already received a warning in March over content aired on thesame program covering the conflict involving Iran, the United States, andIsrael. The episode criticized Iraqi authorities’ position, with the presenterdescribing Baghdad as among the main losers of the conflict.
Separately, the CMC suspended “Voice of the People” on Iraq Al-Hadath TVfor 90 days and imposed a matching ban on its presenter, Marwa Hashem. Amonitoring report on an episode aired on June 24, 2026, found that it contained“inappropriate expressions” inconsistent with the public role of the media.
The regulator also identified violations of provisions related to publicdecency, accuracy, integrity, and respect for privacy, instructing IraqAl-Hadath TV to remove the violations, regularize its legal status, and submita written undertaking within five days of notification.
Iraq ranked 162nd in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders World PressFreedom Index, placing it alongside Sudan and Yemen at the bottom of the globalranking. The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights has previously warned of risingviolations against journalists, including arrests, assaults, kidnappings, andrestrictions on media coverage, citing growing pressure on press freedom and alack of accountability for abuses.
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