An Iraqi TV presenter and an actor appeared in a Baghdad court on Sunday after Iraq's Defence Minister filed a complaint over a satirical TV interview during which they discussed corruption in the armed forces.
The interview was part of a segment added to the daily With Mulla Talal show broadcast by the privately owned UTV channel as part of its Ramadan schedule.
The segment used mock interviews conducted by the show's host, Ahmed Mulla Talal, to address several issues considered controversial in Iraq.
In an episode broadcast on April 4, he interviewed actor Ayad Al Taie, who played a general, to discuss allegations of corruption in the military.
They spoke about accusations that officers made money by granting soldiers leave in exchange for half of their salary, how posts could be bought by paying senior military leaders and politicians, and how bribes are extracted from shopping centres, nightclubs, shops selling alcohol and at checkpoints around major cities.
Defence Minister Juma Al Jabouri, who has acknowledged corruption in his ministry, filed his complaint based on Saddam Hussein-era law against “publicly insulting any public institution or official".
The law carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison.
Lawyer Tariq Al Maamori, who leads Mulla Talal and Al Taie's defence team, said his clients appeared before a judge on Sunday after warrants were issued for their arrest.
The judge ordered their release after confirming their addresses and receiving assurances they would co-operate in the investigation and trial, Mr Al Maamori said.
The day after their interview was broadcast, Iraq’s media regulator suspended the TV show indefinitely for insulting the armed forces.
The regulator issued an order for the segment be removed from all platforms.
The Communication and Media Commission also demanded that the TV production company issue an apologise to the army, a request Mulla Talal has rejected.
The measures have been widely condemned for restricting freedom of speech in the country.
“Iraqi authorities should recognise that journalists and media outlets have the right to air critical coverage of the country’s military,” said Sherif Mansour, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ regional programme co-ordinator.
The commission “should drop its suspension of the With Mulla Talal talk show and ensure that journalists can discuss newsworthy topics without fear of reprisal", he said.
Iraq was ranked joint 157th out of 180 nations on Transparency International’s 2021 corruption index.
Corruption in the armed forces has widely been blamed as one of the reasons the military lost large areas of northern and western Iraq to ISIS in 2014.
Shortly after ISIS began to seize territory, a government investigation found there were 50,000 “ghost soldiers” on the army's payroll.
These soldiers either did not exist or no longer reported for duty but were still paid salaries.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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More on animal trafficking
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Spec%20sheet
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
