Iraq Outlaws Alcohol Imports, Production, and Sales

The Iraqi customs authorities stated: “The importation of alcohol into the country is prohibited in accordance with a recently enacted law, and the law imposes a fine of 10 to 25 million Iraqi dinars (i.e. 7,000 to 19,000 dollars) on violators, and observers condemned Considered decisions restricting freedoms. Alcohol consumption is a contentious issue in Iraq, and this is not the first time that the possibility of its ban has been controversial in the country. There are shops in Iraq that specialize in selling alcohol, usually owned by members of the Christian and Yazidi minorities, and are common in the capital Baghdad. Restaurants, however, and hotels rarely serve alcohol, the use of which is usually perceived negatively. In addition, on Saturday, the Customs Administration informed “all regions and customs centers about preventing the import of alcoholic beverages of all kinds.” The department said in a statement: “Its directive was based on the municipal import law, citing article 14 of the law, published in the Official Gazette on February 20, and states that “it is forbidden to import, produce and sell alcoholic beverages.” drinks of all kinds. The law, a copy of which was reviewed by Agence France-Presse, provides for a fine for violators in the amount of 10 to 25 million Iraqi dinars (that is, from 7 to 19 thousand dollars). This law was voted for in 2016, but it was not published in the Official Gazette, and therefore did not enter into force. At that time, this issue caused widespread controversy in the country, and deputies and observers considered it unconstitutional. Earlier this week, five MPs from the Christian bloc in parliament filed an appeal with the Federal Court over the constitutionality of the article and its failure to respect minority rights, spokesman Duraid Jameel confirmed to the French news agency. Restriction of personal freedoms On Karrada Street in the capital, Sarmad, Abbas admits that Muslims are not allowed to drink alcohol, but “these are private freedoms, we cannot prevent a citizen from enjoying these freedoms”, believing that the decision “will open the way for selling it on the black market.” Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Autonomous Regional Government in northern Iraq is not concerned about this law issued by the federal government.