ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s Sunni Endowment Office on Tuesday condemned a Shiite poet from Basra for insulting religious figures during an event, describing it as “an unacceptable transgression.”

Poet Ali Naeem al-Daraji accompanied Amtar al-Mayahi, a Basra parliamentary candidate allegedly tied to Shiite armed faction, on several of her campaign rallies in the lead-up to the November elections, singing the candidate’s praises.

In a newly-resurfaced video from one of the rallies, Daraji is seen reciting a poem, stating: “Shower them with insults of every kind; Abu Bakr, Umar, and a little bit of Uthman,” referring to the first three of the Islamic caliphs who are generally not accepted by the Shiites.

“The honored companions represent a great example and a solid symbol in the history of the Islamic nation, and any insult directed at them contributes to stirring up sedition and undermining the values of coexistence and mutual respect that our true religion calls for,” read a statement from the Sunni office regarding Daraji’s words.

The office called for respecting all religious sanctities, and held relevant authorities responsible for taking legal action against “anyone who deliberately insults religious symbols or incites hatred,” while noting that it retains “full” legal rights “to respond to this insult and take all necessary legal procedures, including filing a lawsuit.”

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior’s specialized committee for monitoring “indecent” on content, announced on Monday that it is taking legal action against the poet, “in light of his explicit transgression and insults towards religious symbols.”

The Ministry of Culture was also reportedly preparing to file a lawsuit against Daraji.

Iraq’s Penal Code criminalizes insults against religion, with Article 372 prescribing up to three years in prison or a financial penalty for anyone who publicly insults religious figures, symbols, or practices revered by a sect.