Moreover, the 1968 Press Act outlines 12 topics which journalists are prohibited to write about such as negatively portraying the president or the Ba'ath Party. The publication of books is only permitted by the Ministry of Culture. The report states that satellite dishes have been banned and that possession of one could lead to life-imprisonment in solitary confinement and confiscation of all possessions. The government also censors foreign news transmission by jamming the signals. The academic sphere is not untouched by the authorities, their publications are checked and employment is directly linked to support for the government.
Some groups receive even more stringent treatment.
Although freedom of religion is accounted for in legal terms the reality is not quite the same. 1998 World Press Freedom Review Iraq once again proved a trouble zone in many respects. The breakdown in diplomatic relations in February between the UN and Iraq over restrictions on inspections led to television being used as the mediator between the two parties. Washington D.C. The choice of station was partly due to the fact that Saddam Hussein and his staff reputedly watch CNN and the wide coverage it enjoys. Clinton's message got straight through to Baghdad and Iraqi Prime Minister Tareq Aziz phoned Washington within the hour.