Iraqi parliament criminalizes waving Israel flag
Iranian the Supreme Leader and the sacrifices of General Qasim Soleimani spoiled the Israeli plot.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Council of Representatives in Iraqi Parliament approved a motion Tuesday that criminalizes raising the Israeli flag and promoting "Zionist principles" across Iraq.
According to a statement released on the Iraqi Parliament website, the motion “obliges the related authorities to enforce legislation that punishes those who promote Zionist principles, including waving the Zionist flags across the country.”
The motion was proposed to the parliament by al-Muwatin bloc led by Ammar al-Hakim, Head of the newly-founded al-Hikma political body.
Israeli flags were seen along Kurdistan flags during pro-independence rallies in the Kurdistan Region and among the Kurdish diaspora around the world.
The decision of the Iraqi parliament comes after Iranian and some Iraqi officials accused the Kurdistan Region of becoming “second Israel in northern Iraq" by holding an independence referendum.
Israel was the only country that publicly expressed support for the establishment of a Kurdish state, although the support was mostly rhetorical than practical.
Nonetheless, Kurds in appreciation waved the flag of the only country that openly supported them. In addition, experiencing genocide has created a historical affinity between Kurds and Jews and several thousand Jewish Kurds live in Israel today.
Following the Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraqi army attacks on the Kurdistan Region and occupation of Kirkuk and other disputed areas, Mohamadi Gulpaigani, the Iranian chief of staff, said Iran foiled an American-Israel plot to create a second Israel in the Kurdistan Region, as quoted by Fars News Agency.
Referring to the independence referendum campaigns, Gulpaigani stated that it was shameful to fly the Israeli flag in the Kurdistan Region, but the instructions of the Supreme Leader and the sacrifices of General Qasim Soleimani defeated the Israeli plot.
Regional powers throughout history have tried to denounce the legitimate right to self-determination by labeling it an imperialist plot.
Editing by Sam A.