Non-alignment policy

All members of The Checker team affirm their full commitment to the Policy of Impartiality, which is a core part of the project’s ethical framework, ensuring its independence and objectivity.

Key Principles of This Policy:

1. Political Neutrality:
   All team members declare that they are not registered with any political party or movement, whether local or national, and do not support any such party or movement in any way.

2. Non-endorsement of Political Candidates:
   Team members also declare that they do not support, through actions or affiliations, any political candidate during elections, any elected official, or any political stance — locally or nationally.

3. No Biased Representation on Behalf of The Checker:
   Members are prohibited from making any statements that may be interpreted as biased on behalf of The Checker project. They are free to express personal opinions in their own name, outside the context of the project.

4. Prohibition on Gifts or Favors:
   Members must not accept gifts, favors, or preferential services from third parties that may influence their work within The Checker or raise questions about their independence.

5. Immediate Dismissal for Political Engagement:
   If a member accepts a paid position or prominent role in a political party or public/governmental institution, they will be immediately removed from the project.

📅 Last Updated: 2025

Implementation and Review Mechanisms

1. Ongoing Training

   • All team members undergo regular training on neutrality, bias prevention, and best practices in fact-checking.

2. Internal Review

   • Reports are reviewed by an internal committee to ensure they are free from intentional or unintentional bias.

   • Corrective actions are taken immediately upon discovering any bias or error.

3. Handling Complaints

   • The public is encouraged to submit complaints about published reports.

   • Complaints are handled with transparency and seriousness by a review committee consisting of the editor, the responsible fact-checker, and three expert members from the governing organization. The committee investigates and takes appropriate actions, including issuing public corrections when necessary.

4. Procedures for Addressing Discovered Bias

   A. Before Publication:

   • The editor-in-chief reassigns the report to another editor.

   • An investigation panel including the internal committee, editor-in-chief, and legal advisor is formed.

   • The involved editor is warned in cases of unintentional bias, reprimanded for first-time intentional bias, and dismissed for repeated violations.

   B. After Publication:

   • If bias is discovered post-publication, a public clarification is issued outlining the error and how it was corrected.

   • An internal investigation committee is convened to determine necessary actions.

   • The responsible individual is subjected to internal inquiry, and disciplinary measures are applied — from warning (for first-time offenses) to dismissal in cases of repeated or intentional bias.

   • Public corrections and apologies are issued in line with the platform’s correction policy.

5. Annual Policy Review

   • This policy is reviewed annually to ensure alignment with professional, legal, and audience needs.

Through this policy, The Checker aims to strengthen the Iraqi public’s trust in its role as an independent and objective fact-checking entity. Impartiality is not a choice — it is a responsibility that we uphold in every step to ensure accurate information that serves the public interest.