Iraqi Parliament Declares Displaying and Carrying the Israeli Flag a Crime

Following the display of the Israeli flag at demonstrations by Kurds supporting the independence of the Kurdistan Region from Iraq, the Iraqi Parliament has declared the carrying and raising of this flag, referred to as a "symbol of Zionism," to be prohibited. Voice of America reported this news on Tuesday (October 31) citing the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament. Salim al-Jabouri also declared the raising of the Israeli flag throughout Iraq to be a "crime" and added that individuals who engage in this act will face prosecution. Al-Jabouri described the public display of the Israeli flag as a "dangerous phenomenon" that has recently occurred in gatherings and in front of the media, considering it a violation of the constitutional principles of the country. He stated that this action would lead to the "disgracing" of Iraq and its people, and that the law would deal with those who engage in such actions with the "maximum punishment." According to the report, the Shiite faction in the Iraqi Parliament submitted this bill to the assembly, and other groups anonymously approved it. The Israeli flag was repeatedly carried at demonstrations by supporters of the Kurdistan Region's independence from Iraq. The independence referendum for the region was held on September 25 of this year, and according to regional officials, 92 percent of participants supported independence. The regional government has stated that the display of the Israeli flag at demonstrations in Kurdish areas was meant to show the independence of this region and does not reflect the central government's stance towards Tel Aviv. Baghdad does not recognize the existence of Israel as a country. Several officials in Baghdad, as well as in Iran and Turkey, accuse the leaders of the Kurdistan Region of establishing secret relations with Israel and label Erbil's plan for independence from Iraq as an attempt to create a "second Israel in the Middle East." Although Israel denies any interference in the holding of the Kurdish independence referendum, it was the only country that supported it. Benjamin Netanyahu introduced the Kurds' desire for independence from Iraq as a sign of their "national and international maturity" and emphasized Tel Aviv's support for this demand. He also called on other countries around the world to pay attention to the security and future of the Kurds based on this demand. Other countries, including the United States and European nations, while considering the regional government as their ally in the fight against the Islamic State group, opposed the holding of this referendum, stating that it would divert attention from the fight against ISIS.