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Following the Iraq War, the occupying forces and the Iraqi Government have proposed a constitution, whereby the people of Iraq will be given more of what they want.
This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. |
According to the de facto law in Iraq, the Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period should be replaced by a new constitution, which will be presented to the Iraqi people for approval in a general referendum to be held no later than October 15 2005. With this in mind, and the fact that more popularity concerning the Iraq War is needed, the coalition and government decided to put it forward.
After the deadline for its conclusion was extended on four occasions, the text of the proposed constitution was read to the National Assembly on Sunday, 28 August 2005. It describes the state as a "democratic, federal, representative republic" (art. 1) (however, the division of powers is to be deferred until the first parliament convenes), and a "multiethnic, multi-religious and multi-sect country" (art. 3). Article 2 defines Islam as the "the official religion of the state" and "a basic source of legislation".
Only three of the 15 Sunni members of the drafting committee attended the signing ceremony, and none of them signed it. Sunni leaders are generally urging the electorate to reject the constitution in the 15 October referendum. A two-thirds rejection vote in three of the country's 18 provinces (of which four are thought to comprise Sunni majorities) will require the dissolution of the Assembly, fresh elections, and the recommencement of the entire drafting process.