In a move to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and reinforce transparency in Iraq, a joint press conference was held between the President of the Federal Commission of Integrity, Judge Haider Hanoun, and the Chairman of the Communications and Media Commission, Dr. Ali Al-Moayed.
During the conference, the President of the Federal Commission of Integrity emphasised the importance of educating citizens about the constitution and adhering to its provisions, stating that “corruption began when people accepted bypassing the constitutional texts.” He pointed out that interference with institutional work and violations of constitutional provisions are part of this corruption. He also affirmed that the Federal Integrity Commission will support institutions facing pressure or threats and will intervene legally if any institution is subjected to illegal actions affecting its performance.
Judge Hanoun highlighted the crucial role of the media in combating corruption, saying: “The media is the eye that reveals the truth to the citizens.” He called for enhancing transparency in all its aspects, asserting that “transparency without media and without conveying the facts to the people is not true transparency.”
He also reviewed the responses issued by the highest religious authority, which precisely identified the reasons behind the national tragedies, including the spread of drug trafficking, consumption, and promotion, considering it one of the outcomes of corruption. He explained that if it were not for the corruption among some personnel in the sectors concerned with combating drugs or their neutrality towards corruption and criminal gangs, drugs would not have entered Iraq in such large quantities.
Hanoun urged the media to engage more with the religious authority’s project, which can be considered a comprehensive initiative to combat drugs in the country.
For his part, Dr. Ali Al-Moayed praised the cooperation with the Integrity Commission, affirming that the Iraqi media is protected by information and welcomed in state institutions to convey the truth to the public. He referred to the directives of the Prime Minister, Engineer Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani, who emphasized the importance of exceptional handling of corruption files presented by the media.
Al-Moayed called on the Iraqi media to start a new phase of work based on distinguishing between the honest and the corrupt and addressing suspicious agendas attempting to distort facts and manipulate public opinion. He also mentioned the role of the media in combating drugs alongside all relevant institutions, recalling the media’s role in fighting the ISIS terrorist group and restoring national unity.
He confirmed that the joint efforts between the Integrity Commission and the Media Commission, along with the strong will of Iraqi media institutions, will contribute to combating corruption and drugs and restoring confidence in state institutions.
Source: CMC
- Location: Baghdad
- Country: Iraq
- Editor: Vishalakshi Verma
- Category: Media and Communications
