AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): A Kurdish politician was arrested Monday in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region, after a post on his Twitter account that was deemed insulting to Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, authorities said.
Nayef Kurdistani "was arrested by the Kurdistan region's security forces" and is being held in custody in the Kurdish capital Arbil, the autonomous region's interior ministry said in a statement.
He stands accused of making "reprehensible remarks", after a post on his Twitter account in which the author contended that the "Persian" religious authority, among others, is not descended from the Prophet Mohammed, even if they "wear black turbans".
A black turban, when worn by Shia clerics - notably Ayatollah al-Sistani - signifies direct lineage from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The post has since been deleted and Kurdistani denies being the author, claiming his account had been hijacked.
Article 372 of Iraq's constitution stipulates a prison term of up to three years for insulting "a symbol or person which / who is an object of sanctification, worship or reverence".
The KDP says Kurdistani is no longer a party member.
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29 March 2022 - 05:17
News ID: 1242791
A Kurdish politician was arrested Monday in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region, after a post on his Twitter account that was deemed insulting to Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, authorities said.
