The Iraqi government issued official directives on Monday obligating all state institutions to initiate criminal complaints against any entity or person engaged in media incitement of violence and internal infighting, or supporting weapons outside the state's control. The Prime Minister's
Media Office explained in an official statement that freedom of opinion, expression, and media work guaranteed by the constitution and law is practiced within the national space in accordance with legal controls, public order, and citizens' rights, warning against exploiting
it to incite conflicts or support outlaw groups. The statement affirmed that this measure comes to preserve societal peace and enable the state to perform its legal and moral duties, as all institutions are committed to applying the law against
anyone participating in media incitement or obstructing the state's efforts to restrict weapons to its authority alone. This firm stance is based on the constitution and prevailing legislation, particularly the Anti-Terrorism Law No. (13 of 2005), specifically articles two and
four, in addition to what the Supreme Judicial Council approved that using weapons or brandishing them outside the state is considered a terrorist act whose penalties apply to the instigator, financier, and contributor. Reference was also made to the Iraqi
Penal Code No. (111 of 1969) and its amendments, specifically Article (195) concerning inciting citizens to arm themselves and fight, in addition to Articles (81, 82, and 83) related to criminal responsibility for publishing crimes, which hold the direct person
responsible for the content accountable if it threatens community security. The government stressed at the conclusion of its statement that these legal paths reflect its commitment to protecting civil peace and internal stability, and providing immunity for citizens against crimes
of misinformation, dissemination of distorted information, and everything that targets the country's security and the safety of its people.
