Birmingham and Coventry National Union of Journalists

Iraq: Cybercrimes Law Violates Free Speech
Badly Written Provisions and Draconian Punishments Violate Due Process and Free Speech. A new draft law on information technology crimes would restrict free speech in violation of international law and poses a severe threat to journalists, whistleblowers, and peaceful activists, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The pending law includes vague provisions that would allow Iraqi authorities to harshly punish expression they decide constitutes a threat to governmental, social, or religious interests. The Council of Representatives, the parliament, should not approve the law without revising it to remove the rights restrictions.
Read more: Human Rights Watch, 12/07/12