Posted on 07/27/2005 1:03:11 PM PDT by churchillbuff
Framers of Iraq's constitution will designate Islam as the main source of legislation — a departure from the model set down by U.S. authorities during the occupation — according to a draft published Tuesday.
The draft states no law will be approved that contradicts "the rules of Islam" — a requirement that could affect women's rights and set Iraq on a course far different from the one envisioned when U.S.-led forces invaded in 2003 to topple Saddam Hussein.
"Islam is the official religion of the state and is the main source of legislation," reads the draft published in the government newspaper Al-Sabah. "No law that contradicts with its rules can be promulgated."
The document also grants the Shiite religious leadership in Najaf a "guiding role" in recognition of its "high national and religious symbolism."
Al-Sabah noted, however, that there were unspecified differences among the committee on the Najaf portion. Those would presumably include Kurds, Sunni Arabs and secular Shiites on the 71-member committee.
During the U.S.-run occupation, which ended June 28, 2004, key Shiite and some Sunni politicians sought to have Islam designated the main source of legislation in the interim constitution, which took effect in March 2004.
However, the U.S. governor of Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, blocked the move, agreeing only that Islam would be considered "a source" — but not the only one. At the time, prominent Shiite politicians agreed to forego a public battle with Bremer and pursue the issue during the drafting of the permanent constitution.
Some women's groups fear strict interpretation of Islamic principles could erode their rights in such areas as divorce and inheritance. It could also move Iraq toward a more religiously based society than was envisioned by U.S. planners who hoped it would be a beacon of Western-style democracy in a region of one-party rule and theocratic regimes.
Members of the constitutional committee said the draft was among several and none would be final until parliament approves the charter by Aug. 15.
The drafting committee met Tuesday to discuss federalism, one of the most contentious issues, according to Sunni Arab member Mohammed Abed-Rabbou. He described the discussion as "heated" and said no agreement was reached.
Parliament speaker Hajim al-Hassani, a Sunni Arab, urged Iraqi media to refrain from publishing supposed texts unless they are released by the constitutional committee.
Sunni Arabs involved in writing the charter have complained that Shiites and Kurds are trying to steamroll their version of the draft without proper consultation and discussion.
The Sunnis agreed only Monday to resume work on the committee after they walked out to protest the assassination of two colleagues this month.
"It's very important that the constitution is produced through the participation of all Iraqis," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters Tuesday. "This is important for ending and defeating the insurgency, for having a political compact and I want to say to the Arab Sunni community that they can count on us for such a compact."
Sunni Arab support is crucial because the charter can be scuttled if voters in three of Iraq's 18 provinces reject it by a two-thirds majority — and Sunni Arabs are a majority in four provinces. Sunni Arabs make up about 20 percent of Iraq's 27 million people but dominate areas where the insurgency is raging.
U.S. officials are eager for the Iraqis to meet the Aug. 15 deadline as a major step in building a stable constitutional government, considered key to pacifying the Sunni insurgency and enabling the U.S. and its partners to begin drawing down troop strength.
If the deadline is met, voters will decide whether to approve the charter in mid-October and if they do, another general election will take place in December.
In an Internet statement Tuesday, al-Qaida's wing in Iraq warned Iraqis not to take part in the constitutional referendum, saying democracy goes against God's law and anyone who participates would be considered an "infidel," and earmarked for death.
According to Al-Sabah, the draft constitution would declare Iraq a sovereign state with "a republican democratic federal system." However, the word "federal" appears in brackets, indicating opposition among the committee.
Sunni Arabs are suspicious that federalism, a prime goal of the Kurds, would lead to the disintegration of Iraq.
In other developments:
_Gunmen fired on two buses carrying workers home from a government-owned company on the western edge of Baghdad, killing 16 and wounding 27, police and a company official said.
_Two gunmen in a speeding car assassinated a top aide to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, police said in Baqouba, a city northeast of Baghdad.
"If this is the result it would have been much better to keep Saddam in place."
Someone jokingly suggested that we release Sadam, apologize for killing his kids and walking away from Iraq. That doesn't look too bad now. I guess some people just like living in the 8th century. I propose that we settle the issue this way. The Islamo-Troglodytes agree to sell us their oil at market prices. We agree to block all TV radio and satellite transmissions to their sand boxes. In addition no western countries do business in muslim countries thereby minimizing foreign influence. They agree to stop all terrorist acts and to prevent their citizens from emigrating to the west. If they want to live like cavemen, let them.
There's plenty of institutionalized rape in Islamic fundamentalist countries
Yeah, in those countries it's called 'marriage'
That's the way it was done in Japan and it worked.
Why they cannot at least adopt our Bill of Rights if not a basic copy of our Constitution is beyond me. Freedom of religion, press and assembly - its a good start you idiot Iraqis! The youngest, most powerful, most free nation on Earth - a good example just sitting there awaiting emulation.
A TAPESTRY OF DECEIT. (SNIP)
Past myths are claimed today as historical fact in the mill of Muslim historical Revisionism. For example, in 683 CE Caliph Al-Walid built "Al Aksa" Mosque over a Christian church located on the Temple Mount, the site of the Jewish Temple, built by Solomon - 60 years after the death of Mohammed. Caliph Al-Walid named his Mosque "al Aksa" after a mythical dream that Mohammed supposedly had that: Mohammed flew to a place called ‘al Aksa’ (which means the ‘furthest place’) on his great white horse with wings, the breasts of a woman and the tail of a peacock. The word ‘al Aksa’ (as the ’furthest place’) referred either to Medina or the courtyards of Allah in Paradise. This was the rationale offered by true Arab scholars in attempting to explain the basis of a mythical dream supposedly experienced by Mohammed.
In 685-705 CE the Umayyad Caliph Abd-el Malik built the Dome of the Rock, also on the Temple Mount, Mount Moriah. (It is now called the "Golden Dome" after it was covered with gold by the King of Trans-Jordan.) This Caliph, who lived in Damascus, wished to be viewed as Mohammed’s heir. He attempted to re-direct the Islamic compass away from Mecca towards Jerusalem and his sphere of religious/political power. The political thrust of all this was that Islam continued to ignore Jerusalem as a non-entity and continued to worship toward Mecca. However, the myth was created among the (uneducated) Muslim/Arabs, that, by right of conquest, they owned the Temple of the Jews which existed as Solomon’s Temple of the Jews for thousands of years before Mohammed and Islam. However, the myth took root among the Muslims - as history was pushed aside...read more
http://www.gamla.org.il/english/article/2003/sept/win1.htm
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