ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission suspended Adnan Al-Taie’s program ‘Al-Haqq Yuqal’ (Truth Be Told) for seven days for allegedly breaching the Commission’s Media Broadcasting Regulations in the show’s episode on April 30.

The TV show airs on UTV. Taie had previously criticized the Commission during his show.

The Iraqi media commission had previously banned two TV shows aired on the very same channel on similar charges.

Due to "repeated violations of the “Truth Be Told” program and breaching the Media Broadcasting Regulations by the program’s presenter (Adnan Al-Taie), specifically in the episode broadcast on April 30, 2025… it was decided to stop broadcasting the aforementioned program for a period of seven days starting from the date of issuance of this letter,” read a statement by the Commission.

Al-Taie slammed the decision as “unprofessional.”

“It is not objective, unprofessional, and expected because it does not suit the Communications and Media Commission,” Al-Taie said.

“The program calls on the Commission to limit the sectarian discourse that has been presented through media outlets these days from prominent figures,” he said.

The decision came after the Commission said the program included content violating national broadcasting guidelines, warning it must “delete the violations from all platforms affiliated with your channel.”

Iraq's media landscape is heavily influenced by political parties, which control editorial policies.

Many media outlets have been attacked due to their coverage of anti-corruption protests, which some political factions deem hostile.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranks Iraq 169th worldwide in terms of press freedom.

Although Iraq's constitution theoretically guarantees press freedom, conflicting laws often undermine this right. Public figures frequently file defamation lawsuits against journalists, and a persistent cybercrime bill threatens severe penalties for online posts deemed harmful to the country's interests, according to RSF.