The Iraqi Syndicate Law 178 of 1969 has included rules of professional ethics inspired by the resolutions of the Second Congress of the Federation of Arab Journalists, convened in Cairo, February 1968.

Article 25 of the law says that the member should not:

1. Violate or hinder the implementation of the Syndicate Law, its bylaws or the orders issued in accordance with them.

2. Practice the profession without renewal of his membership in the Syndicate in accordance with the law.

3. Use any ways or means to gain illegal profit.

4. Discredit the profession or disclose his sources.

5. Harm the senior or junior members of the media, block their lawful moral or material rights or assign them to private or public tasks that might lead them to break this law.

6. Threaten citizens by methods using the press.

7. Make any declaration or suggestion that might benefit an enemy at the expense of the country.

8. Undermine the confidence of the country, directly or indirectly.

9. Misuse the press media for gossip, slander or accusation of citizens without any right or patriotic and legal justification.

10. Abuse the print press media and illustrations for personal gains that harm others and claim other’s identity, ideas or work.

11. Instigate the instincts of the public by any means that contradict the journalistic art and the interests of society.

12. Violate legal, private and public liberties guaranteed by law, through the use of the press.

13. Misguide public opinion by publishing wrong and distorted information.

14. Publish unconfirmed reports.

15. Take sides in a case where the verdict was not announced by the authorities concerned.

16. Publish wrong information and statements and omit to correct them as soon as the facts are known. The right of reply is sacred.

17. Use others’ excerpts without mentioning the writer or the source.