• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Iraq constitution draws colorful, determined cast

Posted on: Thursday, 4 August 2005, 05:43 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

More News in this Category