The judiciary has instructed the courts to take strict legal measures against some movements that use religions or sects as a cover for their deviant practices. A statement by the Supreme Judicial Council stated: "The head of the council, Judge Faiq Zaidan, instructed the courts today, Monday, to take strict legal measures against some movements that have recently spread under various names that use religions or sects as a cover for their deviant practices that do not agree with the principles, values and ideas of those religions or sects, some of which have become a threat to the lives of citizens who follow a particular religion or sect." Source: National Iraqi News Agency