Angry members of Iraq’s parliament yesterday voted to reprimand the secular Sunni chairman of Iraq’s Democratic Party, Mithal al-Alusi, because he visited Israel last week to attend a counterterrorism summit in Herzliya. According to Reuters, members of parliament say Alusi committed a crime by violating a law that had been in place during Saddam Hussein’s administration.

Parliamentarian Safaaeddine al-Safi, who put forward the motion during a Sunday session, said, “In the name of the government and prime minister, we reject this visit which violated the law and provoked the feelings of the Iraqi people. The government will take all legal measures against this person.”

Besides seeking Alusi’s prosecution, parliament voted to ban Alusi from traveling outside Iraq and from attending any more parliamentary sessions.

Alusi responded to the charge by telling Reuters, “The law does not allow them to do this. What they really want is to threaten any person who talks against Iran.” He said he had received death threats for attending the conference and that parliament’s action simply “gave the green light to the killers.”

On Friday, theTrumpet.com, which also attended the counterterrorism summit, posted a column about Alusi’s courageous career. After attending the Herzliya summit in 2004, Alusi received numerous death threats. The following February, terrorists ambushed a Jeep Cherokee that was supposed to be carrying Alusi. He had decided to wait on another ride at the last minute. His narrow escape from assassination, however, did not prevent his enemies from murdering both of Alusi’s sons, who happened to be riding in the car.