Security
In ongoing efforts to combat hate speech and incitement to conflict, the head of the Security Media Cell, Lieutenant General Saad Ma'n, announced Monday the enforcement of strict legal penalties for inciters of sectarian and hate speech, noting the imminent launch of a platform to report such content. Lieutenant General Ma'n, in an official agency statement, clarified that legal texts and constitutional provisions are the fundamental arbiters in defining hate and sectarian incitement on social media. He stressed the vital need for a clear legal and constitutional culture to distinguish between legitimate freedom of opinion and expression, and actions that infringe on privacy, reputation, or national security. Ma'n added that legal action is the conclusive factor when an act falls under a relevant legal article. He specifically highlighted Article 200/second of the Iraqi Penal Code, deeming it most directly pertinent to the Ministry of Interior's committee. This article penalizes those who promote content inciting sectarian or doctrinal strife, instigate conflict between various sects and ethnicities, or provoke hatred and animosity among Iraq's population. The penalty for these actions, he affirmed, is imprisonment up to seven years or detention, clearly applicable to hate speech in the digital sphere. Beyond Article 200, Ma'n referenced other supporting legal provisions. Article 202 addresses insulting the Iraqi people or any segment publicly, carrying a penalty of imprisonment up to ten years or detention. Article 210 criminalizes deliberately spreading false or malicious news, statements, rumors, or provocative propaganda that disturbs public security, instills fear, or harms public interest. Article 211 complements this by punishing the dissemination of false news or fabricated facts falsely attributed to others, if similarly impacting public security and interest. Lieutenant General Ma'n emphasized that these measures extend beyond sectarian and ethnic discourse to encompass anything affecting public security. He clarified that targeted sectarian speech can negatively impact internal security. He affirmed that the specialized court alone determines the most relevant legal article after the competent investigative judge completes the preliminary investigation. Regarding these challenges, Ma'n noted the imminent launch of a dedicated platform for reporting sectarian hate speech posts. He confirmed the Ministry of Interior's advanced security, technical, and cybersecurity cadres are capable of filtering and analyzing information, and these capabilities will be bolstered by the new platform. He revealed close cooperation with key security and intelligence agencies: the intelligence service, national security, and the Ministry of Interior. These entities, he explained, possess high skills in understanding, filtering, and analyzing digital content, assuring citizens an effective part of this mechanism upon the platform's launch. He added that advanced technical devices enable distinguishing between individual violations and organized collective actions, and identifying those responsible on social media.
