6-08-05,8:44am

A campaign to promote writing a permanent democratic constitution in Iraq, laying the basis for a modern Iraqi state based on the rule of law and institutions, was launched at a meeting attended by about 120 Iraqi democrats earlier this month at the Kufa Gallery in London.

The “Iraqi Committee for a Democratic Constitution” is aimed at promoting active participation by all Iraqi democrats, of all tendencies and affiliations, in writing the permanent constitution in Iraq, and lobbying support for a number of principles including: Establishing a democratic, pluralistic, parliamentary and federal republic. Adherence to the principle of citizenship and establishing a state of law, institutions and justice, and ensuring political pluralism and peaceful transfer of power. Separation between executive, legislative and judicial powers. Separation between religion and state: respecting the Islamic identity of the majority of Iraqi people and ensuring the rights of other religions and sects. Adopting the International Declaration of Human Rights, stressing on civil and political freedoms, the freedom of expression, demonstration and organization (as stipulated in the Transitional Administrative Law – the interim constitution). Equality between women and men, abiding by all international covenants concerning the rights of women and children. Prohibiting all forms of discrimination on the basis of belief, race, gender, color, or ethnic and religious affiliation. Ensuring the rights of nationalities, religions and sects. Securing federalism for Iraqi Kurdistan, and national and cultural rights for all the constituents of the Iraqi people, including Turkomans, Chaldeo-Assyrians, Faili Kurds, Armenians, Azedians, Sabians, Shabak, Christians, Jews. Adopting a decentralized form of administration for the provinces and their relationship with the central government. Ensuring social and economic rights for all citizens: the right to education, health and work, and ensuring social security, and complying with relevant international covenants. Ensuring cultural freedom and respect for ideological, political and national pluralism in our national culture. Subjugating security forces to elected constitutional institutions and their allegiance to the homeland. Developing an effective constitutional mechanism for control over the natural resources, especially the oil wealth, to ensure that it is used to serve the interests of the people and development of national economy, and prevent the plunder and manipulation of this wealth.

The meeting also launched a campaign to collect 1,000 signatures on a memorandum calling for adopting the above-stated principles for writing the permanent constitution. The memorandum will be presented to the National Assembly committee tasked with drafting the constitution, as well as the Iraqi President, Prime Minister and Chairman of National Assembly.

The meeting set up a committee, of 18 democrats and activists, to implement the proposed plan of action during the next few weeks. The Committee includes: Salam Ali, Dr. Najm Ghulam, Ansam al-Jarrah, Dr. Reiadh al-Zuheiry, Samir Tabla, Souad al-Jazairy, Dr. Sabah Jassem, Areej Sultan, Dr. Sabah al-Sudani, Kawa Bisarani, Nadia Haider, Amanuel Yaqoub, Dr. Abdul Hassan, Dr. Sabah Mar’I, Dr. Leonard Jacob, Dr. Kamel Hassan, Ali al-Shawket, Manar Sabri. The program of future activities includes organizing specialized seminars, talks and meetings, for the purpose of discussing the principles of the permanent constitution, based on Iraqi reality and making use of democratic experiences of other countries and peoples. In addition to an active media campaign, the “Iraqi Committee for Democratic Constitution” will encourage writings about the constitution, and issue a bulletin for relevant studies and research material.