Iraqi authorities file charges against activists under anti-normalisation with Israel law

Iraqi authorities have filed legal complaints against several political activists and bloggers, accusing them of supporting the Israeli occupation in violation of the country's 'Anti-Normalisation Law'.

The complaints, some of which were filed by citizens, allege that the activists expressed public support for Israeli military actions in Palestine and Lebanon. Although the activists reside outside Iraq, Iraqi law allows for charges to be filed against nationals abroad. If convicted, the accused could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty under Iraq's stringent anti-normalisation regulations.

One of the primary figures named in the legal complaints is Ghaith al-Tamimi, an Iraqi political analyst living abroad. Al-Tamimi is known for his strong criticism of Iran and its affiliated factions within Iraq. 

Al-Tamimi has been accused of using his social media platforms to make statements that were interpreted as supportive of Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon. This has sparked outrage within Iraq, where any perceived support for Israeli operations is considered a violation of the country's laws.

Ghaith al-Tamimi confirmed to The New Arab the lawsuits filed against him. "Yes, it appears that [Iraqi MPs] have filed an official complaint and taken a parliamentary stance against me by name," Tamimi said to TNA, describing the accusations as "clearly malicious" and aimed at "misleading public opinion."

Tamimi defended his work as a journalist, saying he deals with information, news, and analysis "based on documents and facts" and is not influenced by loyalty, disavowal, or subjective judgments of right and wrong.

"I'm an opinion-maker," he said, arguing that political decisions such as normalisation are the responsibility of governments and parliaments, not social media or journalists.

Tamimi further claims that the campaign against him was intended to divert attention from "the defeat of Iranian militias" and also accused Iran of abandoning its allies during times of crisis.

He added that these accusations aimed to "deceive the public about the looting of the country's resources and the squandering of public funds" under the guise of resistance and sectarianism.

Despite the accusations against him, Tamimi said he remains committed to his work and has full confidence in the Iraqi judiciary and the democratic federal system. "We will not allow them to steal democracy or silence voices," he remarked.

Recently, Iraqi MP Faleh al-Khazali wrote on the X platform, "In support of the children and women of Gaza and Lebanon, and in recognition of the sacrifices of the resistance fighters, we have begun to file lawsuits against pro-normalisation content." However, the Iraqi MP did not name who the charges were against in that post.

The complaints come in the wake of Iraq's unanimous parliamentary approval of the 'Anti-Normalisation Law with The Zionist Entity' in May 2022. Proposed by the Sadrist bloc, the law was designed to criminalise any form of normalisation with Israel by imposing severe penalties, including life imprisonment or death, for anyone who advocates for normalisation or establishes relations with any Israeli institutions.

The law aims to prevent both Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdistan region from formalising ties with Israel in the future.

The legislation specifically stipulates that any Iraqi citizen who visits Israel will be sentenced to life in prison. Moreover, Iraqis who establish political, economic, or cultural relations with Israeli entities, even via digital platforms such as social media, could face the death penalty.

Recently, Nassar Al-Rubaie, the head of the Sadr Bloc, filed a lawsuit against an employee of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry for apparently not boycotting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on 27 September 2024. 

Along with al-Tamimi, other activists and bloggers living abroad have been named in the complaints. These individuals are also accused of making statements that are seen as supportive of Israeli actions.