In a bold move, the Iraqi parliament passed a law in May 2022 criminalizing any form of normalisation with Israel. Recently, Nassar Al-Rubaie, head of the Sadr Bloc, filed a lawsuit against Samar Bashir Al-Qaisi, an Iraqi Foreign Ministry employee, for refusing to boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the UN General Assembly in 2024.
The lawsuit, citing Iraq’s strict laws against normalisation with Israel, accuses Al-Qaisi of violating these laws by staying during Netanyahu’s speech while other Arab and Islamic delegations protested and left the hall. The law imposes harsh penalties, including life imprisonment and even death, for advocating for or engaging in any form of normalisation with Israel.
Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr pushed for the law, celebrating its passage as a “big achievement.” The legal battle against Al-Qaisi highlights Iraq’s firm stance against any ties with Israel, reflecting the country’s dedication to supporting Arab and Islamic nations and condemning Israel’s actions in the region.
[ad_2]
Source link