In a significant development, Baghdad’s Karkh criminal court has sentenced three individuals to six years in prison for promoting the ideology of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath party, as announced on Thursday by the Iraqi judiciary.

The suspects faced charges related to "publishing posts on social media and hanging posters on walls glorifying the former regime," according to an official statement from the court. The Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party, which ruled Iraq from 1968 until 2003, was overthrown following a United States-led invasion, leading to the execution of its leader Saddam Hussein.

The Ba’ath Party is currently banned in Iraq, and Article 7 of the constitution explicitly prohibits the adoption, glorification, or promotion of symbols and propaganda associated with the former regime.

This recent sentencing underscores the Iraqi government's commitment to preventing the resurgence of Ba’athist ideology, which has been deemed a threat to national security. The Iraqi National Security Service had previously announced, in late December, the sentencing of ten individuals in Kirkuk to five years in prison each for similar charges of glorifying the fallen regime.

Saddam Hussein's regime was infamous for numerous crimes against humanity, including the Anfal genocide campaign against the Kurds. One of the most devastating incidents occurred in 1988 with the Halabja chemical attack, resulting in the instant death of 5,000 people and injuring 10,000.

Despite being sentenced to death for his crimes, Saddam Hussein was executed on December 30, 2006, before his trial for the Anfal crimes could be concluded. His demise marked a pivotal moment in Iraq's history, and the government remains vigilant in suppressing any attempts to revive the banned Ba’athist ideology.

As the court's ruling sends a strong message against the promotion of Ba’ath Party symbols, it reaffirms the nation's stance against activities that may undermine the principles enshrined in the post-2003 Iraqi constitution.