Latest news with #Article140
Rudaw Net
3 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Kurdish MP urges Iraqi president to halt Qaratapa upgrade
Also in Iraq Iraqi authorities arrest PMF members linked to attack on ministry Iraq to hit 52 degrees Celsius amid scorching summer Iraq sees drop in wheat production amid summer drought MP says Iraq can withdraw from maritime agreement with Kuwait A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish lawmaker in the Iraqi parliament on Monday urged President Abdul Latif Rashid to intervene and cancel the planned elevation of the disputed Qaratapa subdistrict in Diyala to district status, calling the move unconstitutional and a violation of Article 140, which governs Iraq's disputed territories. 'This step is contrary to Article 140 of the constitution,' lawmaker Karwan Yarwais from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) told Rudaw. 'The administrative boundaries of disputed areas should not be altered while the phases of normalization and referendum for their reunification remain pending.' Yarwais described the move as unconstitutional in a memo sent to Rashid, calling on him to reverse the Diyala governor's July 16 order to upgrade Qaratapa. The decision would also administratively attach Jabara, Koks, and Kulajo to the new district. The Iraqi planning ministry announced in early July that Minister Mohammed Ali Tamim had approved the elevation following a vote by the Diyala Provincial Council. The change prompted strong backlash from Kurds, who see the move as an attempt to alter the demographics of the disputed province and wrest control from Kurds. However, Diyala's Provincial Council on Tuesday formally requested the planning ministry to suspend the elevation process, council member Aws al-Mahdawi, the only PUK representative, told Rudaw. He cited Qaratapa's population being below the required threshold and emphasized the area's disputed status under Article 140. Additionally, Koks subdistrict is under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and not Diyala province, which is under federal control. As such, Mahdawi stressed that its inclusion in the plan is 'illegal.' Yarwais warned that the governor's decision lacks a constitutional basis and violates Article 110, which he says reserves the power to alter administrative boundaries of high-level units to the federal government. 'The governor's decision was not based on any federal constitutional approval or law issued by parliament,' his memo to President Rashid stated. 'Therefore, we request Your Excellency to immediately intervene and issue the necessary guidance to reverse this decision.' Following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, Iraq adopted Article 140 of the constitution to reverse the Baath-era policy of Arabization in disputed Kurdish-populated areas like Qaratapa. Kurdish officials say the article's incomplete implementation has left these regions vulnerable to renewed attempts at demographic change. The article calls for normalization steps in the disputed areas, including the return of lands and properties to their original owners.
Rudaw Net
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Diyala council seeks to block Qaratapa district upgrade
Also in Iraq Iraq's ruling coalition condemns drone attacks on Kurdistan Region Iraqi parliament fails to discuss drone attacks on Kurdistan Region Iraq's top court rejects lawsuits against Kurdish parliament PM Sudani welcomes new commander of anti-ISIS coalition A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Diyala Provincial Council has requested the Iraqi planning ministry to suspend the controversial elevation of Qaratapa into a district, a council member said on Tuesday, with plans for the subdistrict's elevation having drawn the ire of Kurds in the disputed province. The Iraqi government in early July approved changes in Diyala province that would see the merging of the predominantly-Kurdish subdistricts of Qaratapa, Jabara, Koks, and Kulajo into a new Qaratapa district – a decision deemed by Kurds as a renewed effort to alter the demographics of the disputed province and seize territory from Kurdish control. Aws al-Mahdawi, the sole Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) member from the council, told Rudaw that Qaratapa does not meet the criteria to become a district, and that the council's head has officially requested the planning ministry to suspend the procedures. 'Those who did this were doing it for election propaganda, with some failed parliamentarians behind the move,' Mahdawi said, adding that a committee will be formed to investigate the matter. The council presented several factors, explaining that Qaratapa's population is below that required to promote a subdistrict and that the area falls within the framework of Article 140 and should not tampered with. Additionally, Koks subdistrict is under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and not Diyala province, which is under federal control. As such, Mahdawi stressed that its inclusion in the plan is 'illegal.' Sherko Mirwais, a PUK leadership official and head of the party's Khanaqin office, in early July called the changes a 'threat to all of Kurdistan and the future of Kurds in Kurdish areas outside the Kurdistan Region's administration.' Following the fall of the Baath regime in 2003, Iraq began a policy of de-Arabization under Article 140 of the constitution, aiming to reverse the demographic changes imposed by former dictator Saddam Hussein. The failure to fully implement it, however, has been cited as one of the main reasons for the continued attempts at demographic change in the disputed territories. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
Shafaq News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Kurdish MP slams Diyala redistricting: Breach of Iraq constitution
Shafaq News - Diyala Upgrading Qara Tapa in Diyala to district status and merging nearby subdistricts is a violation of Article 140 of Iraq's constitution, Kurdish lawmaker Karwan Yarwais stated on Friday. In a statement, Yarwais warned that the Ministry of Planning's decision to incorporate Jabbarah, Qaws Qulah, and Kulajo into the new administrative unit violates constitutional protections prohibiting changes to disputed territories until Article 140 is fully implemented. Article 140 of Iraq's Constitution mandates the normalization, census, and referendum process to resolve the status of disputed territories between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region, including Kirkuk and areas in Nineveh, Diyala, and Saladin. The process was constitutionally required to conclude by the end of 2007 but remains unimplemented. 'This move mirrors past Arabization policies pursued under the former [Baath] regime,' Yarwais stated, referencing historical boundary manipulation in disputed areas. Recognizing Qara Tapa as a district must be matched by constitutional recognition of restoring Kalar, Kifri, and Chamchamal to Kirkuk — areas previously removed as part of demographic restructuring, he argued. The lawmaker urged Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to block what he called an unconstitutional shift and called on President Abdul Latif Rashid, as constitutional guarantor, to prevent further imbalance in disputed regions.
Shafaq News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Sulaimani Forum 2025: President Barzani calls for peace talks, article 140 action
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani urged Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to activate Article 140 of the constitution on disputed territories and voiced support for renewed peace efforts between Turkiye and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Speaking at the Suiaimani Forum held at the American University of Iraq, Barzani praised al-Sudani's efforts to resolve longstanding issues between the Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad. He urged swift implementation of the Property Restitution Law and reactivation of the committee tasked with implementing Article 140. 'In the Kurdistan Region, we remain committed to the Iraqi constitution as the framework for managing our relationship with Baghdad,' Barzani said. 'The principles of federalism, pluralism, and partnership are key to ensuring equal rights for all Iraqis.' He lauded al-Sudani's role in facilitating the recent recognition of Halabja as Iraq's 19th province, describing it as a significant step forward. 'Prime Minister al-Sudani's vision to expand common ground and reduce differences is the right path forward,' Barzani said. Turning to regional issues, Barzani voiced strong support for Turkiye's renewed efforts to engage in peace talks with the PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. 'This is a historic opportunity to establish peace and stability,' he said. 'We welcome this process and are committed to supporting its success.' Barzani also stressed the need to activate the Kurdistan Parliament and urged the Region's leading political parties to expedite the formation of a new government in Erbil that can meet public expectations and respond effectively to current challenges. Addressing broader global concerns, Barzani pointed to shared threats such as climate change, water scarcity, and forced displacement, saying these issues require coordinated international action. 'Thousands in Iraq have been displaced due to water shortages,' he said. 'We believe in joint cooperation to address these challenges, and the international community must bear its shared responsibility.'
Shafaq News
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
2025 election: Iraq begins voter registration update
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) launched a nationwide voter registration update ahead of the October 2025 parliamentary elections. The one-month process, running through April 25, covers new registrations, biometric updates, deletions, corrections, and changes for displaced persons and security personnel. In Basra, the provincial elections office reported moderate first-day turnout. '32% of voters in the province have yet to update their records,' media director Udayd Abdul Baqi told Shafaq News, urging 2007-born citizens—now eligible to vote—to obtain their biometric voter cards. Separately, Nabrad Omar, head of the Elections Commission in the Kurdistan Region, called on residents of Erbil, Duhok, and al-Sulaymaniyah to visit one of 173 registration centers to obtain or renew their electronic voter cards, noting that voter transfers in areas covered by Article 140 remain restricted, with exceptions for married women and children of eligible voters. Earlier, IHEC spokesperson Jumana Al-Ghalai confirmed the update was approved by the Board of Commissioners to ensure data accuracy and support broad electoral participation across all 18 provinces.
