Writing and Righting Rights In the Iraqi Charter
"Secular
Iraqis Complain that Charter May Curb Rights" by Dexter Filkins of
the NY Times, reports that secular Iraqi leaders said that the groundwork has
very possibly been laid for dominiation by Shiite Islamic clerics and has provisions
that could sharply curtail the rights of women.
It calls for experts in Shariah, Islamic law, to preside over the Supreme
Federal Court and to strike down legislation that is not compatible with Islamic
law. Islam will be the official religion of the country.
The fear is that a hard line government could turn the country into a theocracy.
President Bush asserted on Tuesday that freedom of religion and the rights
of women would be a part of the constitution. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Chalabi
also noted that the separation of religion and the state in the charter was
the strongest of any such document in the Middle East. US Ambassador Zalmay
Khalilsad said that the document has a balance among Islam, human rights and
democracy.
This will probably all hinge on how one defines human rights, women's rights
and democracy - and how much the secular leaders are holding out for more power
and influence.
The administration could be in difficulty if the constitution is perceived
as seriously lacking in human and/or somen's rights and is seen as an Islamic
theocracy from both the left and right. The left who have not favored the war
will be upset about blood and treasure going towards a government that would
not live up to the spread of democracy touted by Bush and the right would be
angered by the establishment of an Islamic theocracy with the war efforts. This
could erode support for the GOP, administration and for sending more troops
to help out for the referendum and December voting.
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