The Iraqi Artists' Assembly confirmed today, Monday, that the dignity of the Iraqi artist is above campaigns of abuse, urging the Media and Communications Authority to take the necessary legal actions against anyone who violates the existing regulations and laws. It called on the Iraqi Media Network to review the participation of those involved in offenses against the upcoming Ramadan drama.
The Assembly stated in a statement received by the Video News Agency that the cultural and artistic scene in Iraq has witnessed extensive movement since 2003, supported by the government, international and local organizations, and cultural centers affiliated with diplomatic missions, with the presence of ambassadors and their representatives honoring Iraqi artists in appreciation of their creativity, without hearing objections from the monitoring entities throughout those years.
The Assembly added that monitoring revealed that most of the pages discussing the issue come from entities outside Iraq, which calls for investigating the backgrounds and objectives of these campaigns. It praised the position of the Iraqi Artists Union and activists on social media supporting Iraqi artist Alaa Hussein, emphasizing the importance of protecting the artist's dignity and preventing personal attacks arising from differing opinions.
The Assembly urged the Media and Communications Authority to take legal action against violations in accordance with existing laws and called on the Iraqi Media Network to adopt clear professional criteria in selecting participants for its dramatic works and to review the involvement of anyone proven to be involved in offenses against artist Alaa Hussein in the upcoming Ramadan season.
The Assembly clarified that respecting culture and art necessitates applying a single standard in dealing with everyone, protecting the dignity of the Iraqi artist, and establishing a culture of responsible disagreement that is distant from personalization and abuse.