Shafaq News / The head of the Supreme Judicial Council in Iraq, Faiq Zaidan, instructed, on Tuesday, Iraqi courts to accurately handle arrest warrants against journalists, and follow the legal hierarchy.

Zaidan stated in a document shared with the Presidency of all Federal Courts of Appeal, "We draw your attention to the Article (38/second paragraph) of the constitution which stipulates (freedom of the press, printing, advertising, media and publishing). Therefore, complaints against journalists must be dealt with carefully while taking into consideration the methods of compelling attendance according to the Criminal Procedures Law No. (2) for the year 1991 begin first with Article (2) and the following articles by issuing a summons to attend to the complainant".

He added, "if the complainant refrained from attending without a legitimate reason for the court at the time to issue the arrest warrant. Therefore, issuing arrest warrants should not be issued in rush as soon as the complaint is submitted. Rather, it is assumed that the legal sequence stipulated in the law should be followed. We also refer you to our issuance No. (12 / Office / 2015). Dated 19/13/2019".

Shafaq News Agency publishes below the text of the official directive issued by the President of the Supreme Judicial Council to the courts of appeal in Iraq.