Sectarianism is the blind championing of one faction at the expense of the others, whether they are in agreement or dispute. Only those who share the same proclivities and interests see the faction’s triumph, which brings them comfort and reassurance.
Like several other countries, Iraq has suffered from sectarianism that had begun with theorization that promotes favoring one faction over others and eventually led to something like a sectarian war. In Iraq, some called the conflict a "civil war," and it consumed everyone in a country whose people had not been accustomed to sectarian labels, let alone their primacy over religion, land, or wealth.
What happened, happened; and the past has passed. The murder, kidnappings, and marginalization went so far as to compel some in Iraq, either out of ignorance or malice, to call for dividing the country. The pretext was to build a mountain of fire between different sects, ethnicities, and religions. However, these efforts failed miserably, and the strife that I have always called a "stench," was buried.
The sectarianism that brought us suffering is years away now, as is terrorism, and corruption will pass too. However, remnants have remained, and they are reemerging in the discourse of the traditional media and promoted by organized trolls online. They exploit past grievances and call for redress through a new regime or exploit a new sense of victimhood to be redressed through a return to an old regime. Behind it all, we hear loud insistence that sectarian identity is equivalent to land, ethnicity, and history.
The threat of incitement has aggravated, with some going as far as aligning with old projects calling for a division of the country. Indeed, certain actors are now seeking to achieve that dream former US President Joe Biden had a decade ago: an Iraq of federations, each threatening the other.
The constitutional foundations of governance in Iraq are being shaken by politicians, businessmen, self-proclaimed tribal leaders, advocates who seek to topple the Iraqi political system, and groups seeking to undermine it. To them, sectarianism is paramount, and if they succeed, Iraq will sink into the abyss.
Thus, as we approach the elections scheduled for later this year, these machinations amount to dangerous escalation, especially in light of the turmoil and chaos wreaking havoc on the region. We have spent years trying to consolidate stability, and the last thing we need is a resurgence of sectarianism.
The foundational political institutions of Iraq’s system (the parliament, government, and judiciary) must address this new wave of sectarianism. The wellspring of this rhetoric must be dried up, and its agenda must be rooted out. Silencing these voices is our only option.
From our political experience and work, we believe that criminalizing what I call "neo-sectarianism" is necessary. We could pass legislation and develop oversight mechanisms that do not infringe on freedom of expression by taking the following steps.
First: Legislation that criminalizes sectarianism must be passed by parliament and then implemented by the Prime Minister, with judicial oversight.
Second: Making a formal request to social media platforms, demanding that they block, remove, and restrict pages, posts, videos, and audio that incite sectarian tension. Many countries have made similar requisitions, invoking their sovereign right to avert disaster and threats to national security.
Third: Engaging with religious authorities of all sects and working with them to draft religious edits that prohibit sectarianism and forbid incitement.
Fourth: Encouraging party leaders and parliamentary whips to build awareness among their partisans, teaching them that sectarian incitement is not a democratic right. It is outside the bounds of free speech because it sparks flames that could morph into wildfires- whether that is the intention of the person behind the rhetoric or not- with potentially devastating consequences.
Fifth: Addressing injustices faced by members of any sect in Iraq. These injustices must be dealt with whether they are the result of historical imbalance or terrorism and corruption. Doing so would reinforce the notion that no sect can be a safeguard and that only the law and the state can offer real protection.
Sixth: Launching a nationwide government-led campaign under the hashtag #Sectarianism_is_Foul-Leave_It_Behind.
Taking the steps we are advocating would not be difficult. They could also be refined further through a collective effort, thereby shielding Iraqis from the peril of sedition and division while affirming that Iraq belongs to all of its sects, as it has since the dawn of history.
My Lord, make this a peaceful land, and provide its people with fruits.
