Najaf court sentences dialogue center director to one year in prison for ‘threats’

NAJAF – The Najaf Misdemeanor Court has sentenced Zaid Al-Talqani, Director of the Rafidain Center for Dialogue, to one year in prison for threatening Ghaith Abu Shabaa, the Deputy Chairman of the Najaf Provincial Council. However, Al-Talqani was acquitted of separate charges related to allegedly insulting Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.

Al-Talqani surrendered at the end of August after complaints were filed against him by Abu Shab’a, who accused him of making threats. The court’s ruling, issued on Sunday, was based on Article 431 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which states that “anyone who threatens another person with committing a felony against themselves, their property, or the person or property of another, or threatens to attribute matters that would damage one’s honour or to disclose such matters, shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years or by detention.”

The case began on Aug. 19 when a special operations unit raided the headquarters of the Rafidain Center for Dialogue in Najaf to arrest Al-Talqani. Security forces seized weapons and removed personnel during the raid, but Al-Talqani was not present at the time. Following the raid, the Najaf Investigation Court issued an arrest warrant.

Al-Talqani was acquitted of charges related to insulting Ayatollah Sistani. The charges stemmed from an audio recording in which Al-Talqani downplayed the judicial warrant and the complaints against him, stating, “No one can stop me.” He referenced a statement from Ayatollah Sistani’s office, saying, “Even the religious authority issued a statement against me, and it had no effect.” This led to a separate complaint under Article 372/5 of the Penal Code, which addresses insulting religious symbols.

The Director of Media at the Rafidain Center for Dialogue released a statement regarding the case, saying, “On Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, the Najaf Misdemeanor Court issued a ruling acquitting Mr. Zaid Al-Talqani of the charges of insulting the religious authority. The court established that the allegations made against him were unfounded, and the attempts to damage his reputation and social standing were unsuccessful.”

The case has drawn significant public and media attention.