Iraq investigates AI video depicting national poet serving tea to PM
An AI-generated video depicting deceased Iraqi poet Muhammad Mahdi al-Jawahiri serving tea to Prime Minister Muhammad Shiya al-Sudani circulated widely on social media, sparking official and public outrage over the insult to Iraq's cultural heritage. The prime minister ordered an investigation into those responsible for creating and distributing the video.
What happened
An AI-generated video showing deceased Iraqi poet Muhammad Mahdi al-Jawahiri depicted as serving tea to Prime Minister Muhammad Shiya al-Sudani was created and widely circulated on social media in February 2026. The video, titled 'United Iraq' and released for Ramadan, portrayed al-Jawahiri as a ghostly figure in al-Sudani's office.
Prime Minister al-Sudani issued a statement rejecting the video's content as an insult to Iraqi cultural symbols and national institutions, and directing the Iraqi Media and Communications Authority to conduct an urgent investigation into those who produced, promoted, or published the material. Al-Sudani reserved his legal right to prosecute those responsible for creating the video.
Reported impact
The video sparked widespread public and official anger in Iraq, with criticism from journalists, poets, academics, and social media users who viewed it as an affront to al-Jawahiri, a revered figure in Arab literary tradition and a symbol of Iraqi national memory.
Commentators warned that irresponsible use of AI technology could harm historical and cultural heritage if not properly regulated.
Index analysis
The incident involved the creation and circulation of AI-generated synthetic media that misrepresented a deceased cultural icon in a manner deemed disrespectful to national heritage and governance.
Governance controls
The government directed its media authority to conduct an investigation into the sources and distribution of the content, citing irresponsible use of AI technology that violated professional and media standards.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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