Baghdad: The Karkh Criminal Court has sentenced 18 individuals to three-year prison terms for their involvement in promoting the ideology of the banned Ba'ath Party. The court's decision marks a significant step in enforcing the legal framework against activities related to the outlawed political group.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the court revealed that the convicted individuals utilized social media platforms to disseminate and endorse the ideas of the Ba'ath Party, which has been banned in the country. The sentencing was carried out under Article 10 of Law No. 32 of 2016. This law prohibits the Ba'ath Party along with any racist, terrorist, and takfiri entities, parties, and activities. The legal proceedings also referred to Articles 47, 48, and 49, as well as Article 132/3 of the Penal Code, to substantiate the charges against the defendants.

The court's statement underscores the use of social media as a tool by the defendants to spread the banned ideologies, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the authorities in monitoring and controlling digital platforms for unlawful activities. The legal actions taken by the Karkh Criminal Court demonstrate the judicial system's commitment to curbing the influence and resurgence of the Ba'ath Party in the region.