An awareness symposium on cyber extortion was held in cooperation with the House of the Holy Qur'an at Imam Hussein Holy Shrine.  The said event was under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Zainab Al-Mulla Al-Sultani, the President of Al-Zahraa University for Women, and coordinated by Asst. Lect. Heba Salem Jawad, the Head of the Women Empowerment Unit at the University. The event took place at the Um Abiha Hall in the University's main building, attended by guests from various segments of society, alongside deans, academic staff, female students, and administrative personnel. The symposium aimed to raise digital awareness regarding the usage of smart devices and the immense risks they pose.

Speaking to the official University website, Asst. Lect. Heba Salem Jawad stated: "Al-Zahraa University for Women has initiated this awareness symposium to address one of the most hazardous technologies created by humanity: social media platforms. While they offer numerous benefits, they simultaneously conceal even greater problems on the reverse side, most notably the dangers of cyber extortion, of which young women are predominantly the victims."

She added that the symposium featured several segments, beginning with a recitation of verses from the Holy Qur'an and a pause to recite Surat Al-Fatiha in memory of the martyrs' souls. This was followed by panels covering legal aspects, security awareness, religious and technical dimensions of computer literacy, as well as psychological and social viewpoints.

In the same context, Dr. Ala' Aziz Karim, Director of the Community Police Department in Karbala, remarked: "Among the initiatives witnessed in Karbala to serve the public good is the establishment of the Community Police, affiliated with the Ministry of Interior. Its role focuses on preempting crime through the weapon of awareness, as it functions as a social organisation built on cooperation between citizens and police officers to maintain local security. It aims to educate citizens on confronting and reporting crime before it occurs, representing an organisational strategic philosophy that strengthens the positive partnership between communities and the police."

He further noted: "A significant and prevalent issue in our society is cyber extortion, which ensnares various segments of the community. In essence, there are smart devices in the hands of reckless users. The issue of extortion can be tackled by refusing to panic or submit to the extortionist's threats, and by communicating with the family and relevant authorities to resolve the problem before it escalates."

He emphasised that most cyber extortion attempts are financially motivated and affect men as well, adding that transnational extortion exists due to the extortionist's ability to carry out these base acts even from outside the country.

For her part, Amal Al-Mutouri, Head of the Female Qur'anic Activity Unit at Imam Hussein Holy Shrine, stated: "The Female Qur'anic Activity Unit undertook the preparation of an awareness symposium regarding the critical issue of cyber extortion, which frequently claims young women as victims. The symposium addressed the religious aspect by delivering a lecture to spread religious and doctrinal culture, drawing evidence from Qur'anic verses. Al-Zahraa University for Women was selected to host this event as it is the premier institution dedicated exclusively to women, reflecting the vital role of women in society as virtuous educators and builders of generations. Therefore, it is our duty to protect them by raising awareness so they do not fall prey to the dangers of the web."

It is worth noting that extortion causes severe psychological harm to victims, inducing anxiety, stress, and depression due to their inability to disclose the problem. This leads to the accumulation of pressure, which tragically drives some victims to suicide. Consequently, Iraqi law penalises perpetrators of extortion with imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years.
Translated by Zahra' Ala'