Iraq has banned Reuters for three months after the UK-based news agency reported that the number of cases of coronavirus infections in the country is much higher than the government reports.
Reuters reported yesterday that there are “thousands” of cases in Iraq and while referring that they got their sources from doctors, a Ministry of Health official and a senior political official. The official figure quoted by the government in Iraq is 772 confirmed cases and 54 deaths from the virus.
The government responded harshly to the report. The Communications and Media Commission condemned it and has fined Reuters $20,000 as well as demanded an apology for “putting social security at risk.”
Fears of more people contracting the disease have been rising within Iraq and, indeed, across the region. The number of people infected in neighbouring Iran, for example, has passed the 53,000 mark, of which almost 3,300 have died and just under 18,000 others have recovered. There has been much speculation, however, that the number could be much higher due to a possible cover up by the Iranian government.
Follow the latest news on Google News
