Thursday, July 28, to urgently start a dialogue with Christians as the parliament prepares to adopt a draft constitution that would make Islam the basis of daily life and laws. Jim Jacobson, who was policy analyst in the White House and is now president of Washington based Christian Freedom International (CFI), said the draft constitution makes clear that Islam is to be "the official religion of the State" and "the main source of legislation."
Although the draft is still under discussion he expressed concern that its text, which was published this week in the Iraqi Al-Sabah newspaper, is already supported by the conservative Shiite majority in Iraq’s parliament.
Legislatures are to vote on the draft constitution by August 15 before it goes to a national referendum in October. "Religious minorities, i.e. Christians and women are concerned about how great a role Islam will play in the new constitution, with some fearing a return to the dark ages," he said in remarks to BosNewsLife.
DEATH SENTENCE
"Under Islamic law, apostasy is punishable by death. In some Islamic countries Christians who share their faith, or engage in public worship, can be executed," Jacobson added.
Iraqi women’s rights activist Yannar Mohammed told reporters that the current text of the draft constitution could allow public floggings and stoning, and granting clerics the last word in matters of marriage, divorce, and inheritance.
"The liberation of Iraq has unleashed the darkest forces in the country. We will be losing the basic protections as women and public citizens" if this language is adopted, she reportedly said. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) agrees. In statements published Thursday, July 28, the USCIRF said the proposed constitution limits the equality of women and Iraq’s international human rights obligations to only those matters which do not contradict Islam or Islamic law.
"NO FREEDOM"
The panel stressed that the draft constitution "makes no reference to the right of freedom of religion" or belief for every Iraqi citizen and that it "provides no guarantee of freedom of thought and conscience."
“If these drafts become law, Iraq’s new democracy risks being crippled from the outset,” said USCIRF Chair Michael Cromartie in published remarks. “Fundamental rights of the individual to debate and dissent from state imposed religious orthodoxies would be curtailed, and the threat of discrimination would hang over all Iraqis, including members of religious minorities, non-religious individuals, and women. The United States should ensure that universal human rights standards are a basis for urgent dialogue and diplomatic engagement with Iraqis."
But parliamentary speaker Hajim Al-Hasani has made clear he does not believe the proposed constitution would mean the rule of Sharia, or Islamic law. "I think there’s an agreement (in parliament) that we should not include Sharia in the constitution," Middle East Online quoted him as saying.
CODIFY ISLAM
Jacobson said he had urged CFI supporters to "pray that the draft language that would codify Islamic law be deleted from any final Iraqi constitution" and to "pray for Iraq’s struggling, persecuted Christian minority that God will protect and help them" as well as for justice and peace for all Iraqis.
Referring to the Bible verse 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 he cited the Apostle Paul as saying: "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God…"
He urged CFI supporters to lobby in Washington for human rights guarantees in the constitution and to pressure Iraq’s constitutional drafting committee and the government to talk with international experts and to ask advise "from underrepresented ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians."
US FORCES
The debate about Iraq’s religious and political future, came as US-led forces struggled Thursday, July 28, to avoid more bloodshed following devastating suicide attacks in recent days. On Thursday, July 28, the White House condemned the killing of two kidnapped Algerian envoys in Iraq and promised to help find those responsible.
Al Qaeda in Iraq reportedly claimed responsibility for killing the two envoys, Ali Belaroussi and Azzedine Belkadi, citing their government’s support for the United States. In a rare written statement, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the United States "strongly condemns the brutal murders," and added, "We stand with the people and government of Algeria during this time of national grief," Reuters news agency reported.
"We are committed to bringing those responsible to justice," McClellan added. The Pentagon is hoping to reduce US troops by up to 35-thousand by next spring, about 30 percent, several news reports said. (With BosNewsLife News Center, BosNewsLife Research and reports from Iraq and Washington).
