An Iraqi court judgment imprisoning a young man for criticizing a governmental entity sparked anger and rejection in the southern province of Nasiriyah last week, prompting hundreds of young people to demonstrate and confront the security forces, who killed at least two demonstrators.
The story began when 20-year-old Haider Al-Zaidi apparently criticized the late deputy commander of the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Units, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, on Twitter. In June, the PMU security department arrested Al-Zaidi and held him for 16 days over a tweet criticizing Al-Muhandis that stated “only in Iraq would a spy be described as a martyr.” On Dec. 5, the Rusafa Criminal Court in Baghdad charged the young man with insulting state institutions and sentenced him to three years in prison.
During his detention and interrogation, the high school student was tortured and insulted by his captors, according to his father, who is seeking to free his son. “We are waiting for the (PMU) to drop the charges and solve the case. We are trying to find a solution through our personal contacts,” Hameed Al-Zaidi told reporters, noting that his son’s current condition was good and that he was allowed to visit him and bring him food and clothing.
According to an Iraqi news agency, it was stated in the verdict that the PMU reserves the right to compensation after the ruling becomes final, adding that the accused’s mobile phone will remain in the custody of the investigative party for containing security information.
The young activist was sentenced based on 1969’s Article 226 of Iraq’s Penal Code, which prohibits “publicly insulting” the national assembly, armed forces or any other government agency.
Is this the new Iraq that people fought for following the end of Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship? What kind of a message was the ruling regime trying to send through its judicial system?
The pro-Iranian ruling class aims to extend the radical, brutal system from Tehran to Baghdad by force through its militias. It punishes whoever disagrees with its agenda.
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