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Iraq constitution draws colorful,
determined cast
4.8.2005
By Andrew Hammond
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BAGHDAD (Reuters)
- Sharp-dressed secularists, preachers in full
clerical garb, women lobbying for equal rights, and
media swooping to catch them all on camera -- the
writing of Iraq's constitution is a daily jamboree.
A panel of politicians representing the key
communities have met daily over recent weeks to
haggle over the wording of Iraq's first post-Saddam
Hussein constitution.
Headed by Shi'ite Muslim cleric Humam Hammoudi, it
is composed of representatives of the majority
Shi'ites, Sunni Arabs who were favored by Saddam,
and Kurds, as well as Christians and ethnic Turkmen.
Many have sharply differing visions of Iraq's future
shape and identity and are keen to push their view
to an Iraqi media hungry for news about a process
which the United States has pressured Iraq to
complete by an Aug. 15 deadline.
All the action is happening in a gray conference
building inside the U.S.-protected 'Green Zone' in
central Baghdad, which houses the Iraqi parliament
and the U.S. embassy, and was once where Saddam had
his palaces.
Much of the bickering is over wording that might
seem pedantic to some.
Both Sunni and Shi'ite Arabs want to describe Iraq
as part of the Arab and Islamic "nation." Kurds,
wary of persecution they suffered under Saddam's
Arab nationalist regime, want to water it down to
"world" or "surroundings."
"'Nation' we don't accept,"
said Mahmoud Othman, a Kurd, standing outside the
cafe where media, parliament deputies and the
constitution's framers gather for frequent breaks.
"Now they are suggesting 'part of the Arab and
Islamic world', which is easier for us," he added.
BATTLING FOR CONSENSUS
At the same time Kurds, seculars in western suits,
and women's groups are fighting to resist a desire
by many influential Sunni and Shi'ite Arabs to
stress Islam.
"It's basically agreed. Islam will be the 'main
source' of legislation. We are not saying it's the
only source, just the main one," said Sunni panel
member Hassib Arif, after holding a news conference
on Wednesday to trumpet progress so far.
Women's groups have been vigorously campaigning
against this at media events in other parts of the
same building, which is decked out in large posters
promoting the awaited document.
"We are not sleeping. I've been all over the media
asking people to back us. It's becoming a political
issue," said Safia al-Souhail, Iraq's ambassador to
Egypt.
"On Friday we want our demands discussed, taken
seriously and agreed upon," she said, referring to a
key meeting of the constitution drafters with Iraqi
political leaders.
Sunni politicians are fighting to resist a federal
system all over Iraq like that enjoyed by Kurds in
three northern provinces, where they have an
autonomous government.
"Some in the (Shi'ite) coalition want everything the
Kurds got. The Kurds got a 'region', so they want
one too," complained Saleh al-Mutlak, one of the
leading Sunni Arab drafters.
"Everything the Kurds are asking for now, they got
before from the Baath party and Arabs," he said,
praising the 1970 constitution that lasted until
Saddam was brought down.
Though the 71-member panel has an interim
constitution from last year to work with, it is
under pressure to draft a document that will be
approved in a referendum and help end a
Sunni-dominated insurgency against the U.S.-backed
authorities.
"We're worried the constitution will be rejected by
the people. Large sections of the population reject
some of the points being put into it," Mutlak said.
Reuters
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