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Iraqi Kurdistan parliament pushed through
disputed religion law
15.5.2007
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May
15, 2007
Erbil, Kurdistan region (Iraq), -- The Kurdish
parliament in Iraq's autonomous region of Kurdistan
has approved a law on religious heritages and sites
which has caused conflict between Islamist and
secular deputies.
The latter believe the draft law contains clauses
that are contrary to the principles of the
constitution and the foundation charters of some
Kurdish secular parties. Ariz Abdallah, a Kurdish
MP, told AKI "this law was approved despite the
controversy it provoked" adding that "unfortunately
during Monday's hearing the door of debate was
closed to many MPs present, especially those with a
secular orientation."
Abdallah argued that "the articles in the law are
contrary to the principles of many parties
represented in the assembly, for example the
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the
Democratic Kurdish Union, which voted in favour of
the legislation."
"One of the clauses appeals to the spread of an
Islamic culture in Kurdish society which raises the
question, whether that can be exploited by extremist
forces for unclear ends".
The approval of the law had been deferred various
times because of disagreements over an article which
stated that Islam was the sole source of
legislation, something which also goes against the
Iraqi national constitution which guarantees the
respect of all religions.
The draft of the Kurdish constitution refers, in the
seventh chapter, to "the Islamic identity of the
majority of the people of Kurdistan" and says that
"the principes of Islamic law are one of the main
sources of law". At the same time it "guarantees all
religious rights to Christians, to the Yazibi and to
all others, including freedom to worship and live
their faith. "
adnki com
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