The Dhi Qar Court of Appeals building in southern Iraq.
Dhi Qar court sentences man to eight years for pro-Israel social media posts
NASIRIYAH — A Dhi Qar Criminal Court on Monday sentenced a man to eight years in prison after finding he promoted pro-Israel ideas and imagery on social media, in violation of Iraq’s anti-normalization law.
In a statement, the court said it convicted the defendant of “promoting the Zionist entity” after he posted photos on Facebook that authorities said supported and encouraged normalization with Israel. The ruling was issued under Article 7 of Law No. 1 of 2022, which criminalizes normalization with Israel, alongside Article 132/2 of the Penal Code.
The 2022 law prohibits Iraqis from engaging in any form of cooperation, communication or advocacy connected to Israel, including travel, contact with Israeli institutions or promotion of normalization. Penalties range from prison terms to life sentences or death, depending on the offense.
Parliament passed the legislation in May 2022 with broad political support, and courts have applied it in multiple cases involving online activity deemed to violate the law.