Erbil court issues arrest warrants for activists, journalists over blasphemy allegations

ERBIL, Iraq — The Erbil Court of First Instance has issued arrest warrants against a group of activists and journalists accused of insulting Islam and religious symbols, civil society representative and cleric Mohammed Sabah al-Hiyat said at a press conference on Tuesday. Al-Hiyat said the warrants followed a legal action pursued by a group of lawyers and civil society activists. He said the court instructed security forces and the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Interior to detain the individuals at checkpoints, border crossings, airports and their known addresses so they could be handed over to the judiciary. Al-Hiyat described the Kurdistan Region as a model of peaceful coexistence and religious diversity, saying existing laws guarantee protection for all communities. He added that freedom of expression cannot be used to insult religions and sacred values and that legal prosecution is necessary to preserve social peace. No further details on the identities of those targeted or the allegations prompting the warrants were immediately available.