 The largest Sunni Arab political party yesterday criticised the committee drafting the constitution, calling it biased and chaotic. The statement accused the committee of trying to divert discussions away from Sunni objections over federalism. The Iraqi Islamic Party, which has members on the committee, said in a statement that federalism is only suitable in the Kurdish self-ruled areas and not elsewhere. | "We can only be ruled, not governed." |
It also insisted on the constitution affirming the country's Arab and Islamic identity. The party, which has roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, also demanded that Islam be declared a main source in legislation. Women's groups fear a strong role for Islam in the legal code will threaten women's rights. The party also rejected giving the Shiite clerical hierarchy in Najaf a special status "because there is no need to put sectarian issues in the constitution".| "Sharia is not a sectarian issue, see..." |
On civil status law, the group called for a law that "takes into consideration the pluralistic sectarian and religious personality and be implemented in all courts". The group said the drafting committee did not succeed in diverting the attention of the 15 Sunni Arab members from issues such as "the Arab and Islamic identity, the status of Shiite hierarchy, civil status law, women's rights and other issues. They tried to keep the 15 members busy with the federalism issue," the statement said. |