Iraq media regulator warns two hosts, suspends TV show for 30 days

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Media and Communications Commission said it has issued warnings to two television presenters and suspended a program called "Ed-Dawla fi Jawla" for 30 days over what it described as unverified claims aired during ongoing court cases. The measures target Emir ed-Da'mi and Abdulrahman al-Jazairi, the commission said in a statement released on Tuesday. The commission said ed-Da'mi was warned for remarks made on July 9, 2026, on Dejla TV's "Man al-Ahir" program, where he raised allegations related to cases under judicial review without documentary support. It said the broadcast violated the second chapter, third article of the commission's rules, which covers false and unsubstantiated content. Al-Jazairi was warned over similar, undocumented material shared during the "Al-Haqq Yuqal" program on UTV on July 1, 2026. Under the decision, "Ed-Dawla fi Jawla" will be off the air for 30 days following findings that episodes aired on May 4, May 27, June 2 and June 14, 2026 contained unverified information and allegations, permitted expressions contrary to public-morality rules, and that the host, Mustafa Majid Selim, failed to correct them. Selim is barred from appearing on television for the same period, and the producer has been given five days to address the violations and issue a formal apology.