5. Iraq

This chapter discusses the historical beginnings of the media in Iraq and how it developed over time during the Ottoman control and the British occupation, which was followed by a dictatorial rule that completely restricted the media. Since 2003, Iraq entered a democratic era, which witnessed openness and relative freedom of the media. But, because of the deteriorating security conditions, widespread corruption, and the control of political parties and religious movements over governance, freedom of the press in Iraq is globally ranked among the last in the index of press freedom.