IMN Head: Iraqis Enjoy Democracy And A Competent Judiciary
The head of the Iraq Media Network (IMN), Karim Hammadi, said on Wednesday that Iraqis are living under an active democratic environment and benefit from a competent judiciary, highlighting the country’s political progress since the fall of dictatorship.
Speaking at the Saudi Media Forum, Hammadi noted that Iraqi news channels remain active and influential, playing a central role in shaping public discourse. He emphasized that, unlike the pre-2003 era when state television broadcast long presidential speeches with no public critique, today’s media landscape allows viewers to access multiple channels and social media platforms, fostering greater transparency and competition.
Hammadi pointed out that semi-official Iraqi television faces competition from private broadcasters and social media, while remaining bound by legal, social, and cultural guidelines. “Competition is intense, but we strive to engage audiences through technical, cultural, and sports programming, including exclusive coverage of local festivals and the Iraqi football league,” he said.
He also highlighted the strong public interest in political news, noting that channels such as Iraqiya News, Al Jazeera, and Al Arabiya maintain high viewership due to their rapid coverage and interactive discussions. “News channels in Iraq remain effective and will not be supplanted by social media, which lacks the capacity to deploy fully equipped teams to cover events on the ground,” Hammadi added.
He cited a recent incident in which a social media post accused a military officer of misconduct using AI-manipulated images. A television channel amplified the story before investigations debunked the claims. Hammadi said the network’s verification restored public trust, though the reputational damage to the officer and his family was difficult to reverse.
Hammadi also praised the rapid development in Riyadh, and said Iraqis feel pride in their political system. “After decades of dictatorship, we now have an environment of active democracy, with regular elections every four years to select the president, prime minister, and parliamentary speaker—a remarkable achievement in our region,” he said.
https://ina.iq/en/45253-imn-head-iraqis-enjoy-democracy-and-a-competent-judiciary.html
