Baghdad court sentences Iraqi politician Mishan al-Juburi to one year in prison

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Baghdad's Karkh Criminal Court sentenced Iraqi politician Mishan al-Juburi to one year in prison on Thursday. The ruling came in a case filed by former Iraqi parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbusu, who leads the Progress Party. The case centers on statements by al-Juburi that were deemed threatening. The underlying complaint was filed by al-Halbusu in late 2023, accusing al-Juburi of insulting what he described as a symbol of the democratic system. Responding on the X platform, al-Juburi said al-Halbusu had not been held accountable despite threatening, warning and insulting his rivals. He also argued that others accused of insulting sacred values or facing serious charges had not been treated similarly. The Karkh Court's verdict, issued in absentia, added a new legal dimension to the political and media dispute between the two figures. No further details were immediately available on whether al-Juburi plans to appeal.