Judiciary signals stronger protection for free speech

Iraq’s judiciary has reprimanded a senior judicial official in a move that signals growing efforts to broaden the scope of free speech.

On Thursday, the Judicial Oversight Commission, the body responsible for monitoring the conduct of judges and judicial staff, issued a disciplinary notice against the acting director of the office of the President of the Supreme Judicial Council. The reprimand was triggered by a memo he drafted and signed that was addressed to the Public Prosecutor. The memo instructed the prosecutor to take legal action regarding media statements allegedly calling for the overthrow of the political system. It cited Article 182 of the Criminal Procedure Code and framed the statements as falling outside legally permissible contexts.