Syrian singer Angi Farah arrested in Iraq for 'bad conduct'

Syrian singer Angi Farah was arrested on Sunday in Baghdad for producing inappropriate content, according to local Iraqi media.

Security forces arrested Farah under Article 403 of the Iraqi Penal Code for his online activities, Al-Sumaria News reported, citing an Iraqi Interior Ministry source.

The arrest is part of a broader campaign by Iraqi security authorities against what they describe as “producers of inappropriate content” on social media platforms. The source added that the ministry had issued arrest warrants and court orders to curb such activities.

Several international watchdogs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, last year called on the Iraqi government to end its crackdown on free expression, primarily under Article 403 of the Iraqi Penal Code. , which criminalizes published materials that “violate public integrity or decency.”

In another incident, Iraqi social media influencer Om Fahad was shot dead by a gunman on a motorcycle outside her home in Baghdad in April. The Interior Ministry is investigating the murder. Om Fahad, real name Ghufran Sawadi, was murdered while she was in her car parked outside her house in the Zayouna neighborhood of Baghdad.

In March, the Iraqi Ministry of Communications officially requested the government to take action against the social media platform TikTok. Expressing concerns about TikTok's impact on Iraqi society, Iraqi Communications Minister Hayam al-Yasiri stressed that the platform had contributed to the “erosion of the country's social unity.” She said the Ministry of Communications formally asked the Council of Ministers to block TikTok, citing its lack of educational value and its role primarily as an entertainment platform.

This follows a recent decision by Iraq's Federal Supreme Court to regulate offensive online content. TikTok, known for hosting content creators who have faced legal repercussions, falls within the scope of the court's directive, which aligns with efforts by Iraqi authorities to combat derogatory content on social networks. social media platforms.

On September 25, 2023, Iraqi blogger Noor Alsaffar, also known as Noor BM, was tragically shot and killed by an unidentified assailant in the al-Mansur neighborhood of Baghdad. With over 370,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, Noor has challenged societal norms by sharing videos of himself dressed in women's clothing, accompanied by dance performances.

In February 2023, two Iraqis were sentenced to prison for sharing “indecent” content on social media following the formation of a committee by the Interior Ministry to monitor online content contrary to social media. values ​​of Iraqi society. YouTuber Hassan Sajamah was sentenced to two years in prison, while TikTok user Om Fahad faced similar charges before his untimely death.