Iraq arrests 40 accused of promoting outlawed Baath Party online

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s National Security Service announced Sunday the arrest of 40 individuals accused of promoting the banned Baath Party through social media platforms, accusing them of attempting to stir public unrest and destabilize the country.

“These are desperate attempts by remnants of the former regime to market dead dreams and cause internal disruption,” the agency said in a statement. It added that some detainees confessed to managing sectarian content and planning sabotage with support from fugitives abroad.

The statement described the group as “rogue elements” using “fake rhetoric to promote the outlawed Baath regime” and incite hostility against the state. It said the arrests were carried out in multiple governorates through targeted operations ordered by the agency’s leadership. Legal proceedings have been initiated against those involved.

“These factions and their illusions will not succeed in destabilizing the country or reviving dictatorial ideologies,” the agency said.

The Baath Party ruled Iraq from 1968 until the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and was officially banned following the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. The party is widely associated with widespread human rights violations, including genocide against the Kurds and the violent suppression of dissent.

In November 2024, State of Law Coalition leader Nouri Al-Maliki warned of renewed threats posed by Baathist remnants and other extremist groups amid rising regional tensions. “The government and political leaders must prioritize strengthening Iraq’s security and political stability to counter threats from terrorism and criminal groups,” he said in a televised address.