row over figures in death penalty report

The Iraqi Justice Ministry strongly rejected a report published by th al-Hayat Organisation for Human Rights in June stating that Nouri al-Maliki’s government issued 12,000 death sentences in the last four years. Al-Hayat’s report claimed... more

new election bill causing controversy at first reading

A new behavioral code of conduct for elections has been submitted to parliament by the Presidential Council to ensure state media neutrality and to protect voters, but it is already sparking strong disagreements. Some are saying that there is too... more

election law text

After weeks of wrangling, the Iraqi parliament passed a new election law, amending law 16 of 2005, on November 8 2009, paving the way for national parliamentary elections to be held in January 2010. One hundred and forty MPs out of 195 present... more

u.s judge counsels iraqi judiciary

Six years after the fall of the Saddam regime, Iraq’s media sector continue to work in a murky legal environment. There is an urgent need for new legislation to strengthen the freedom of the press and to protect those working in the media sector... more

controversy over kurdish constitution

The Kurdistan Constitution, passed by the Regional Parliament on June 24 and set to be put before Kurdish voters for approval in a July 25 referendum, has sparked controversy from both across the country and within Kurdish circles. Critics say... more

rostay: government should compensate kurds

On September 10, 2008, the Iraqi Presidential Council approved Resolution 26, ratifying a parliamentary resolution condemning the crimes of Saddam Hussein’s regime against the Kurds as acts of “genocide”. The resolution was brief but covered... more

the provincial election law

The Iraqi government has passed a provincial election law paving the way for regional elections to be held no later than January 31, 2009. The important agreement, approved by both parliament and the presidency, comes after months of wrangling... more

kurdish journalists welcome press law

On September 22, Iraqi Kurdistan’s regional parliament passed a regional media law sparking an outpouring of support from Kurdish journalists and media outlets. The law, they say, gives them unprecedented freedoms. An earlier version of the... more

finally, agreement

Iraq’s parliament unanimously passed the Provincial Election Law on September 24, ending months of political turmoil. The deal was settled by temporarily removing the disputed territories of Kirkuk, as well as the Kurdish region’s three... more

a new old proposal

The issue of ethnic consensus in Kirkuk province, inhabited by a mix of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and Christians, has become an issue of great concern for Iraqi politicians and UN representatives. Indeed, control of Kirkuk has seemingly become an... more

saeed: no solution without compromise

Niqash talks to Kirkuk's deputy governor and Arab bloc member, Rakan Saeed, on tensions between Kurds and Arabs, the recent controversy over article 24 of the election law and the position of the Arab bloc regarding developments in the... more

the aftermath of 22 july

The events that took place inside the Iraqi parliament on July 22 - the day of the vote on the provincial election law – have shown yet again the challenges that confront Iraq as it seeks to implement a democratic model. The anger of The... more

law on the prevention of abuse of communications devices

The Kurdish Parliament on May 20 approved the: 'Law on the Prevention of Abuse of Communications Devices.' According to legislators the widespread use of modern communication devices such as mobile phones and the Internet has provoked social... more

despite objections - law on provinces released

Niqash - 20 March 2008: After heated debate over details in the Law On Provinces, the Presidential Council decided On March 19th to withdraw its objections regarding the law. Instead, a draft law will be prepared by the Council in cooperation... more

the law for provinces not organized into regions

In its session held on 13 February 2008, the Iraqi parliament approved the Law for Provinces Not Organized Into Regions. The passing of the law came with a political deal reached between the major parliamentarian blocs in order to push through... more

"accountability and justice" law

Following months of political struggle between the government, parliament and political blocs participating in the process, the Iraqi parliament passed the “Accountability and Justice” Law on January 12, 2008. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s... more

retirement law amended

On 9 December 2007, the Iraqi Presidency Council ratified the the first amendment to the Iraqi Retirement Law No. 27 / 2006. The amendment aims to "achieve a balance between employees and the state for those who have joined the government... more

law on investment in oil refining

On 2 December 2007 the Iraqi Presidency Council ratified the Law on Investment in Oil Refining No 64 / 2007, which gives governorates and federal regions the right to conclude contracts with private companies to construct refineries. To read the... more

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