The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a strong demand on Tuesday for the Iraqi government to reopen the satellite channel of Al-Baghdadia TV and release its director, Ali Al-Dhabhawi, who is currently serving a three-year prison sentence. The call comes amid rising concerns over escalating actions against independent media in Iraq.

Doja Daoud, CPJ's Levant Program Coordinator, condemned the Iraqi authorities' recent actions, stating, "The closure of Al-Baghdadia TV and the imprisonment of its director mark a deeply alarming escalation in the Iraqi government’s crackdown on independent media. Raiding newsrooms, arresting journalists, and using questionable criminal charges to silence dissent are unacceptable tactics. Iraqi authorities must allow journalists to work freely and without fear of reprisal."

Al-Dhabhawi was convicted under Articles 230 and 430 of the Iraqi Penal Code, following a raid on the TV channel's office and his home. The raid was reportedly in response to his criticism of the National Intelligence Service. During the operations, six journalists were arrested and the station's broadcasting equipment was confiscated. Although the journalists have been released on bail, the TV channel remains closed, citing licensing issues as per the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC).

Legal representations for the journalists have highlighted the severity and, in their view, the absurdity of the charges. Wahab Al-Janabi, a lawyer involved in the case, detailed the allegations: "The charges claim he assaulted a police colonel and several officers in Najaf while they were on duty. They also accuse him of threatening to kill a civilian at a medical complex, allegedly saying he was a journalist with wide influence who could do anything."

This is not the first instance of Al-Baghdadia TV facing governmental pressure. The channel has experienced harassment and previous shutdowns, drawing criticism from international organizations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which has also condemned the arbitrary closure and urged for the restoration of its license.

Iraq's press freedom environment continues to deteriorate, as evidenced by its ranking at 156th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. Similar repressive measures have been seen with other media outlets in the country, such as Media21 and Iraq AlHadath, both of which were shut down recently by the government.

The international community and rights groups continue to watch closely, calling for immediate actions to ensure the protection of journalists and the fundamental right to freedom of expression in Iraq.