Religious Minorities Speak Out Against Iraqi Election Legislation
Although many citizens and policymakers in Iraq were displeased that the most recently passed election law failed to address critical issues like the city of Kirkuk, a whole new wave of opposition to the law has risen from people who are outraged and opposed to it entirely.
When the law was passed, legislators struck from it Article 50, which guaranteed political representation for Christians and members of other minority sects in Iraq. Constituents from these minority groups showed their displeasure by speaking out publicly and staging demonstrations this weekend in northern Iraq, where many of them reside.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has taken these demands into consideration and has urged Parliament and other government officials to amend this law in favor of the Christians and the other minorities who wish to remain active participants in the political sphere. The bill still has to be approved by President Talabani and his vice presidents, so there is definitely time for revisions if Parliament is willing to comply.
Haley Hackendale
