Iraqi media and online commentators face new threats

Significance

The advent of the new federal prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, himself a former journalist, brought a temporary lull, but deadly partisanship is now returning to the media scene. To the north, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), under tightening economic and pressure, has forcibly closed media outlets and put forward a draconian new law.

Impacts

• Media use of disinformation and ‘fake’ content will likely escalate in the run-up to the federal polls.
• Tehran could step up its funding of key television channels to cement a dominant pro-militia narrative in Iraqi Shia politics.
• Deeper anger over nepotism and corruption in the KRG will undermine stability, but there is no likelihood of outright civil conflict.
• A clumsy crackdown may undermine the Kurdistan region’s reputation as a stable and safe location for international trade and investment.