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Iraq Bans Reuters for Three Months Following Fake COVID-19 Report

Iraq Bans Reuters for Three Months Following Fake COVID-19 Report
folder_openIraq access_time3 years ago
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By Staff, Agencies

Iraq banned the Reuters news agency from operating on its lands for three months Friday, following the release of a report alleging that the number of COVID-19 cases in Iraq is much higher than officially recorded.

The story, released Thursday, claimed that there are in fact thousands of recorded cases of the virus, far exceeding the 772 reported by the Iraqi government, citing three doctors closely involved in the testing process, as well as a Health Ministry source and a senior political official.

Reuters also said that the number of deaths was much higher than the 54 reported so far by the Iraqi authorities.

In a publicly released statement, Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission condemned the report, saying it had also fined Reuters $20,000 and wanted an apology for the story, which has "put social security at risk.”

There was no immediate comment from Reuters.

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