Baghdad: The head of the Security Media Commission, Lieutenant General Saad Maan, has announced the establishment of a specialized committee aimed at monitoring hate speech and publications of an ethnic and sectarian nature.

According to Iraqi News Agency, Maan stated that the initiative seeks to track and monitor speeches and publications that incite sectarian and ethnic strife, with an overarching goal of preserving social peace and enhancing stability. The move comes as part of directives issued to form a specialized committee that will oversee this type of content within the established legal frameworks.

Maan further explained that the formation of the committee received approval based on directives from the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The committee’s primary mandate will be to monitor and track any publications and speeches that may incite sectarian problems or propagate hate speech.

The Security Media and Public Relations Authority in the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces will chair the committee. Its objective is to monitor and address content potentially harmful to social peace or inciting ethnic and sectarian tensions, taking necessary measures in line with legal protocols.

The committee will comprise representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the National Intelligence Service, the National Security Service, and the Information Operations Center, alongside several specialized technical directorates within security institutions. This collaboration is expected to bolster mechanisms for monitoring and addressing content that incites hatred and sedition, thereby contributing to the security and stability of society.