ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's Federal Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily suspended the implementation of three laws concerning general amnesty, personal status, and the return of land confiscated under the Baath regime to its original Kurdish owners, following recent amendments, as reported by state media.
Late last month Iraq’s legislature passed three controversial bills regarding the return of land confiscated under the Baath regime to the original Kurdish owners, the amendments to the controversial personal status law pushed for by the Shiite blocs, and the general amnesty bill that would change the definition of affiliation with terror groups desired by Sunni groups after months of disagreements.
Kurdish, Shiite and Sunni lawmakers last year introduced three bills which later became a headache for the parliament as discussions and voting on them were repeatedly delayed due to agreements.
However, in a surprising move on January 21, the legislators agreed to pass all three bills, ending months of disputes.
It is not clear what triggered the top court to halt the crucial laws but according to a document published on Iraqi media the ruling came after a Shiite lawmaker filed a complaint against the amendments.
One of the bills aims to return properties to their original Kurdish and Turkmen owners. These lands were taken from them and given to Arab settlers by the Baathist Revolutionary Command Council decades ago.
The general amnesty bill seeks to amend the 2016 law’s definition of affiliation with terrorist organizations, a key demand from the Sunni community for joining the ruling State Administration Coalition. Sunnis argue that thousands from their community have been unjustly imprisoned in Shiite-dominated Iraq since 2003 over alleged terrorism links.
The 1959 Personal Status Law governs marriage, divorce, and inheritance. The amendment, introduced by independent lawmaker Raed al-Maliki and widely supported by Shiite legislators, would allow religious rules to govern personal status matters. The proposed change would grant religious laws authority over personal status issues. This amendment has sparked significant opposition, with more than 130 lawmakers signing a petition against it. Critics, including activists, argue that the bill could pave the way for child marriage and weaken protections for women.
Updated at 5:09 pm
