New parliamentary efforts to advance the Information Crimes Law

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[size=52]New parliamentary efforts to advance the Information Crimes Law[/size]

[size=45]Baghdad / Hussein Hatem[/size]
[size=45]Today, Monday, the House of Representatives intends to proceed with the first reading of the draft information crimes law, after a long slumber that passed over the bill for more than one parliamentary session without passing it.[/size]
[size=45]The law, which included 31 articles, dates back to 2011 after it was refused to be passed because it contained many omissions and weaknesses at the time, and although it was re-stuffed with some amendments, it still contains many minuscule paragraphs.[/size]
[size=45]The Information Crimes Law included more than 20 articles under which several paragraphs were included, all of which stipulated varying penalties of up to thirty years in prison and financial fines of up to 100 million Iraqi dinars.[/size]
[size=45]A member of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, Yasser Iskandar and Tout, said, in an interview with (Al-Mada), that his committee “intends to read the draft information crimes law today, Monday, as a first reading.”[/size]
[size=45]Witt added, "The draft law has been stalled since previous sessions, and the House of Representatives is seeking to pass many stalled laws."[/size]
[size=45]A member of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee pointed out, “The amendments to the draft law will be after the first reading, after meeting with civil society organizations and the competent authorities.”[/size]
[size=45]One of the most prominent complaints about the proposed law is granting the authorities the possibility to prosecute bloggers on issues such as creating electronic accounts with names other than the real names of their owners, and not distinguishing between criticism and insults of public figures and institutions, as well as restricting access to information and the right to publish it, especially with regard to corruption cases.[/size]
[size=45]In her turn, human rights activist Sarah Jassim said in an interview with (Al-Mada) that “the draft information crimes law has undergone many amendments,” noting that “the latest amendment is better than the previous amendments.”[/size]
[size=45]Jassim added, "The draft law will be read today without a meeting and vision by specialists, civil society organizations, and jurists."[/size]
[size=45]The human rights activist pointed out that “the provisions of the law must be consistent with the nature of society and not be unfair.” Jassim confirmed, “The draft law has two positive and negative sides with regard to extortion and with regard to the penalties specified within its paragraphs.”[/size]
[size=45]In 2019, an amended version of the same law was introduced with its title changed to “Combating Cybercrime” but the idea behind the drafting of the law remains.[/size]
[size=45]For his part, Ali al-Tamimi, a legal affairs specialist, said in an interview with (Al-Mada) that “the draft cybercrime law consists of 31 articles that focus on the types of these crimes, the method of reaching them, how to deal with them, and the penalties mentioned in Article 3 of the draft, which reach life and death. These crimes are against the security of the country, or impersonation, redress, fraud, piracy, and hacking of accounts,” explaining that “the crimes are inspired by the Penal Code and other laws, money laundering, and the law focused on duties without rights.” Al-Tamimi continued, “There is no problem with the legal qualification of actions, but in my opinion, the problem is with the investigation and ways to reach crimes that need specialists in investigation and trial. Such a law was issued in Egypt, Jordan and Palestine, and it was presented to public opinion and satisfied opinions until it was legislated.”[/size]
[size=45]The specialist in legal affairs indicated that “the law needs that it does not violate the constitution in civil and political rights, and that it does not violate international covenants, the Universal Declaration and the International Charter, and that parliament hosts specialists before legislation.”[/size]
[size=45]Earlier this year, a delegation from the Baghdad Foundation Organization for the Defense of Victims of Opinion met with the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faeq Zaidan, and discussed with him the provisions of the law, which indicates widespread concern among Iraqi activists.[/size]
[size=45]The Foundation stated that it discussed with Zaidan the file of violations of freedom of expression and restrictions on journalists and civil activists in Iraq, in addition to researching the paragraphs of the Information Crimes Law.[/size]
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