Iraqi PM Orders Urgent Investigation After Gazette Publication Error Triggers Widespread Reaction

Iraq 05:45 PM - 2025-12-04

The Iraqi Gazette.

A decision issued by the Committee for Freezing Terrorist Funds, under the General Secretariat of the Iraqi Council of Ministers, and published in the Iraqi Gazette, has sparked significant public and political reaction, prompting the Prime Minister to order an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding its release. The committee has since issued a formal clarification addressing the incident.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has instructed that those responsible for the mistake be held to account, following the publication of what the government described as incorrect and misleading information.

In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Media Office and received by PUKMEDIA, the government said: “Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has directed an urgent investigation to determine responsibility and hold accountable those behind the error in Decision No. (61 of 2025) of the Committee for Freezing Terrorist Funds, published in the Iraqi Gazette, Issue No. (4848) on 17 November 2025.

The decision contained inaccurate details, as Iraq’s approval to freeze funds—based on a request from Malaysia—was limited solely to individuals and entities affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaeda.”

The statement stressed that Iraq’s political and humanitarian stance regarding aggression against civilians in Lebanon and Palestine remains firm and principled, adding: “These are moral and national positions that are not subject to political bargaining. They reflect the will of the Iraqi people in all their diversity, and the right of our brotherly nations to freedom, dignity, and life on their own land.
No opportunist can challenge the Iraqi government’s consistent support for the legitimate rights of peoples facing occupation, aggression, genocide and forced displacement—issues the international community has too often remained silent about.”

Committee Issues Clarification Following Outcry

In a related development, the Committee for Freezing Terrorist Assets issued a statement on Thursday 4 December 2025 addressing confusion over the published decision concerning the freezing of funds belonging to a number of parties and organisations.

According to the clarification, also reviewed by PUKMEDIA: “Decision No. 61 of 2025, printed in the Iraqi Gazette (Issue No. 4848) on 17 November 2025, included measures to freeze assets belonging to individuals and entities linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda, based on a request submitted by Malaysia and in enforcement of UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001).

However, the published list also included names of groups and organisations with no connection to terrorist activity associated with either organisation.”

The committee confirmed that the error resulted from releasing the list before the final revision was completed, and announced that the Gazette will be corrected accordingly:

“The Iraqi side only approved the listing of individuals and entities affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaeda. The additional names were included prematurely, and will be formally removed from the published list.”



PUKMEDIA