Iraq investigates alleged smear campaign against election candidate

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Judicial authorities in Baghdad have opened an investigation into a complaint filed by Rana al-Batat, a former parliamentary candidate, who alleged that several social media accounts carried out a coordinated campaign of defamation, insults and misleading content against her, judicial sources said. The sources said the complaint included information and evidence presented to the court, and that the investigating judge reviewed the initial documents in the case file and initiated judicial proceedings, issuing search and examination orders against individuals named in the file. According to the sources, the orders were issued in line with legal procedures to verify the allegations and collect evidence. The investigation aims to identify those managing the accounts and the parties behind them, the sources added, noting that the current phase focuses on gathering evidence. Judicial authorities said they are acting under laws covering electronic publication offenses, defamation and attacks carried out through social media, and that the proceedings fall within the jurisdiction of the judiciary. The judicial sources said the individuals named in the case had not made any public statements regarding the legal action as of the time of reporting, and that their right to respond and issue clarifications remains preserved.