Iraq constitution draws colorful, determined cast

By Andrew Hammond

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.