Accountability Commission: former regime figures still being pursued, Baathist promotion monitored

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Accountability and Justice Commission reaffirmed it is actively tracking former Baath Party members and preventing the resurgence of Baathist ideology, citing a robust centralized database and ongoing coordination with state institutions.

Hassan Al-Shuwaili, head of the commission’s media department, told the state-run Al-Sabah newspaper that the body relies on a database established in 2004 containing millions of records submitted by government agencies. He said the system has been key to purging former regime figures from public institutions and blocking their return to decision-making roles.

The Baath Party ruled Iraq from 1968 until 2003 and was banned after the U.S.-led invasion. It remains closely associated with widespread abuses, including crimes against the Kurdish population and the violent suppression of political dissent.

Al-Shuwaili said the commission monitors the assets of former regime leaders inside and outside Iraq, referencing Law No. 72, which allows for the seizure of properties belonging to individuals ranging from Saddam Hussein and his relatives to members of the regime’s repressive security services.

He said the commission coordinates with the Integrity Commission and the Higher Committee for Recovering Stolen Funds to track looted assets, and operates strictly on official documents to uphold due process.

A specialized unit also monitors content in media, academia, and culture in coordination with the Communications and Media Commission. “Cases involving promotion of Baathist ideas in media materials, cultural works, or university theses were addressed and legal action was taken,” he said.

In July, 40 people were arrested for allegedly promoting Baathist ideology on social media. Last month, two others were arrested in Dhi Qar’s Souq Al-Shuyoukh district for similar charges.

Al-Shuwaili said decisions issued by the commission are subject to appeal through the Inspector General’s office or official online platforms. He added that education reforms have eliminated references to the Baath Party from school curricula, while public symbols and statues imposed by the regime have been removed from public institutions and heritage sites such as the ancient city of Babil.

Separately, State of Law MP Aref Al-Hamami told Alawla TV that some Baathists have exploited Iraq’s “fragile situation” to infiltrate institutions with backing from senior officials and had aligned themselves with groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda. “Fighting them is a duty,” he said.