Iraq’s Parliament ends 2nd reading of Journalists Protection – Sports & Youth Ministry’s laws

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi Parliament has ended on Sunday the 2 nd reading of the draft-laws on Journalists Protection and the Ministry of Sports & Youth, for which the Parliament Members have proposed adjustments on the Journalists Protection Law and necessity that it covers all journalists, working the mass media.   “The Parliament’s 1 st ordinary session for its 2 nd Legislative Year, was held under chairmanship of its Speaker, Usama al-Nujeify and attendance by 184 Members on Sunday, during which it listened to the 2 nd reading of the draft-laws on Protection of Journalists and the Ministry of Sports & Youth,” according to a statement of the Council’s Media office.   The statement pointed out that the Members of Parliament have said that the Journalists Protection Law had concentrated on necessity to carry out some justifications on the draft-law, to cover all journalists, working in the media, as well as increasing the compensations paid to the its victims, as well as enabling the media to get its information freely.   Legislature, Habib al-Turfy, has called for the defining of the party, concerned with granting pension salaries for martyrs and victims of journalism.   MP Fatima al-Zargany demanded the legislation of a special law for journalists, including their duties and commitments, whilst Saad Hamza called for non-hiding information from journalists, in accordance with the openness, witnessed by Iraq after the downfall of the former dictatorship.   Legislature Latif Mustapha had reaffirmed necessity that the law includes laying a mechanism to prevent state institutions to present information for the press.   As regards to the draft-law on the Ministry of Sports & Youth, MP Walid al-Hilly said that “the financing of sports clubs can be financed by the government and necessity to establish an institute for education and youth centers, not only for sports, but also for protection of human rights, democracy and love among people.   SKH (RT) 1120