Iraq Downgraded to ‘Not Free’ in Global Democracy Report

PUKMEDIA

Freedom House report.

In its annual international report on the state of democracy and human rights, the American organisation Freedom House reported a marked deterioration in political and media freedoms in Iraq, assigning the country its lowest classification of “not free.”

The report noted that the erosion of freedoms in Iraq worsened considerably throughout 2023, 2024, and 2025, coinciding with the rise to power of Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s government. The country saw declines in key areas such as freedom of expression, media independence, and political participation.

Freedom House attributed this downward trend to several core factors, including weak state institutions, rampant corruption, the influence of armed groups on political decision-making, the suppression of press freedoms, and a failure to uphold human rights standards.

The Freedom House report is widely regarded as an authoritative global assessment of freedoms and democratic conditions, and is frequently relied upon by major powers and international bodies in shaping foreign policy and engaging with governing regimes.



PUKMEDIA