Only a few months into its term, Iraq’s government is suddenly enforcing a long-dormant law banning alcohol imports and arresting people over social media content deemed morally offensive.
Some see the measures as an attempt by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to head off potential political challenges from religious conservatives and to distract from economic woes, such as rising prices and wild currency fluctuations.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani speaks at a news conference in Berlin, Germany on Jan. 13, 2023.“There are imported goods at the borders that are not allowed to enter, with a value of tens of millions of dollars,” he said. For Isso, the ban is a blow to Iraq’s multi-confessional social fabric. He believes it will prompt more non-Muslims to emigrate.Alcohol is generally prohibited in Islam — the religion of the vast majority of Iraqis — but is permitted and used in religious rituals by Christians, who make up 1% of Iraq’s population of about 40 million.
He downplayed fears that outlawing alcohol would increase trafficking of other drugs. “Drugs already exist, with or without this law,” he said. “Alcohol also causes addiction and social problems.”The alcohol ban comes on the heels of the contentious campaign to police social media content. Some showed dance moves deemed provocative, used obscene language or raised sensitive social issues such as gender relations in Iraq’s predominantly conservative society.
“There is a confusion between freedom of expression, which is protected by the constitution” and what he called offensive content.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
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