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Soon a new low will be approved by the Iraqi government. This legislation will ban smoking in public places, such as: government buildings, schools, movie theaters and airports. Iraq is a country of frazzled nerves and nicotine, where deals are struck and conspiracy theories incubated in the smokiest of rooms, reported scientists. These are the main characteristics of this country, and that’s why cigarette smoking should not be banned.

As it is known smoking is widespread in a lot of countries, however almost all these regions have taken steps toward a smoking ban. For example: Jordan and Israel prohibited smoking in public places, and Qatar has a ban on indoor smoking in public places, though it is loosely enforced. But a bill being presented to the Iraqi parliament by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's cabinet, would revise rules in a way that many Iraqis who were interviewed described as inconceivable, by banning smoking in government buildings and public indoor areas.

An Iraqi smoker said: "We have no electricity, no jobs, people still get killed. We all have to deal with anger issues here. That's the reason people smoke here, to run away from that." The suggestion appears to show the government's wish to shake off Iraq's image as a battle-ravaged, lawless country as it requests to achieve foreign investors and latch onto the global economy after decades of isolation. Aside from the smoking ban, Iraqi officials are considering initiatives to regulate the Internet and satellite television channels to ban pornography and prohibit or more tightly regulate alcohol sales.

Ali al-Dabbagh, the government spokesman, said: "The purpose of the law is to protect Iraqi citizens from the dangers of smoking", because Iraqis chain-smoke in government buildings, hospitals, cafes and restaurants. They light up at weddings and funerals, before boarding planes and after bombings. Anti-tobacco researchers found that every Iraqi home and office has ashtrays. Under the proposal, violators of the ban would be exposed to a fine of up to $4,300, the government said. And also smugglers caught bringing in brands with high levels of nicotine and tar would be fined twice as much.

Unfortunately it is not clear yet whether the proposal will become law.