Iraq Slams 3 Months Ban On Reuters Over COVID-19 Report

For what its described as twisted and incorrect reportage of the raging Coronavirus pandemic in its domain, the Iraqi authorities have slammed a three months ban on the Reuters news agency.

In justifying its action of suspending Reuters‘ operating licence, Iraq accused it of publishing a story claiming the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country was higher than officially reported.

Iraq’s media regulator said it was revoking Reuters’ licence for 90 days and fining it 25 million dinars (21,000 dollars) for the Agency’s violation of media broadcasting rules in the Western Asian nation.

In a letter to Reuters, the Communications and Media Commission (CMC) said it had taken the action “because this matter is taking place during current circumstances which have serious repercussions on societal health and safety.”

In addition to the three-month suspension, Reuters was ordered to issue a formal apology debunking the reports.

According to the Health Ministry, as of April 13, Iraq had recorded 1,378 cases of COVID-19, including 78 deaths.

However. Reuters said it regretted the Iraqi authorities’ decision and that it stood by the story, which it said was based on multiple, well-placed medical and political sources, and fully represented the position of the Iraqi Health Ministry.

“We are seeking to resolve the matter and are working to ensure we continue to deliver trusted news about Iraq,” the news agency said in a statement.

The contentious Reuters report, published on April 2, 2020, cited three doctors involved in the testing process, a Health Ministry official and a senior political official as saying Iraq had thousands of confirmed COVID-19 cases, many times more than the 772 it had publicly reported at that time.

But the report was updated on April 2 to include a denial from a Health Ministry spokesman, sent by text message, who dismissed the sources’ assertions about the spread of the disease, describing them as “incorrect information.” – With Reuters/NAN reports