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It seems that injustice against Iraq minorities mainly Christians is ongoing as six local council seats were reserved for minorities, only half the number proposed by the United Nations. Concerned objections accompanied a series of meetings between Christian representatives and political leaders to deal with injustice and reach fair representation.
In this context, President Jalal Talabani and Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi met a Christian religious delegation on Wednesday. A statement following the meeting conveyed Talabani and Abdul Mehdi’s disappointment of the minorities’ law issued by Parliament few days ago vowing to find solutions that guarantee Christians rights.
According to the statement, President Talabani stated that the presidency council has started discussions thereof and will pursue consultations with Christian ministers and lawmakers to find solutions that guarantee the rights of this sect. Talabani affirmed that Christians are a major refined component of this society.
For his part, Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi expressed disappointment towards the law. In a statement, he hoped the Parliament would deal with Christians and other components regardless of electoral considerations in a way that empowers them in face of threats and marginalization.
According to the Constitution, resolutions by Parliament need collective consensus from the presidency council formed of the President and both vice presidents before it enters into force. On Monday, Iraqi Parliament issued a supplement of the local elections law mainly religious minorities’ law in virtue of which six seats were distributed equally on minorities including Christians. This point has raised major reservation from a number of Christian lawmakers, politicians and clerics protesting equal distribution since Christians are a majority in comparison with other minorities such as Shabak and Yazidis. The United Nations proposal did not rally enough votes to grant minorities 12 seats, seven of which for Christians, one for Sabeans, one for Shabak and three for Yazidis.
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