Asiacell telecommunications is currently standing trial in Iraq for violating the terms of service agreement. But that’s not it, there have also been calls from the Iraqi Parliament to investigate Asiacell for providing service to areas occupied by ISIS. 

The Commission of integrity (COI) was blamed for not looking into it.

The designated authorities and media and communication committee must probe Asiacell’s suspicious behavior, and its connection to terrorism, Legal committee member Sadek Al-Laban said.

Qatar is still playing a role that’s detrimental to Iraq, it actually has an interest in supporting terror here, Al-Laban added. “If Asiacell is implicated in supporting ISIS, it must be kicked out of Iraq immediately and all of its assets must be seized. All those who worked with it have to be punished.”

Influence in the government  

The Commission of integrity had actually opened an investigation into the violations of Asiacell, but it was shelved after some government officials, who have shares in the company, interfered, according to a member of the services committee.

“The government has to be serious about combating pro-terror nations, Asiacell must be kicked out of Iraq,” Qatari MP Ali El-Bedeiry said. 

“Everyone knows Asiacell is an agent of Qatar in Iraq providing the Gulf state with information, which lets it influence Iraqi affairs and push forward with its goals. Qatar probably supports terror in the region,” he added.

Asiacell, the first mobile telecommunications company in Iraq, was established in the city of Sulaymaniyah in 1999. It has around 12 million subscribers.