Iraq issues first life sentence under anti-normalisation law with Israel

Iraq has handed down its first life sentence under a law that criminalises normalisation with Israel, the judiciary announced on Wednesday.

The Karkh Criminal Court in Baghdad sentenced a man to life imprisonment for promoting the "Zionist entity" on social media.

According to the Supreme Judicial Council, the defendant published photos and videos on Facebook supporting normalisation with Israel.

Authorities also found Hebrew-language books and newspapers in his home. The ruling was issued under Article 7 of the Anti-Normalisation Law No. 1 of 2022.

Iraq’s parliament unanimously passed the law in mid-2022, making it illegal to establish any political, economic, cultural, or media ties with Israel. The legislation, the first of its kind in the country, reaffirms Iraq’s constitutional position of being in a state of war with Israel and imposes severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, for "any cooperation with the occupation".

Legal expert Salem Hawwas al-Saadi told The New Arab's Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that this case marks the first application of the law since its enactment.

He said: "The legislation is clear and binding, prohibiting any form of contact or cooperation with the Zionist entity, whether political, economic, cultural, or even indirect. Any attempt at normalisation, even by an individual, is considered a crime under the law."

Al-Saadi added that the law does not target freedom of expression but aims to block any efforts to legitimise or pave the way for normalisation, reflecting Iraq’s national consensus rejecting the occupation and its actions against the Palestinian people.

The anti-normalisation law also bans any dealings with companies or institutions linked to Israel or providing it with support.

It defines any move that materially or morally benefits the occupation as “high treason”, punishable by life imprisonment or execution under Iraq’s amended Penal Code No. 111 of 1969.