The story: The arrival of Ramadhan has been accompanied by controversy in Iraq and Kuwait. The Islamic lunar month is famous for bringing with it new TV shows. This time, contention in the two countries is revolving around dramas accused of misrepresenting society, stoking sectarian tensions, and insulting religious figures. The recurrence of such debates in recent years has prompted questions over just how open TV shows in the region can be given deeply entrenched cultural and religious norms.

The coverage: The Kuwaiti information ministry on Mar. 16 slammed “creative works which offend the state of Kuwait or...