Latest news with #IraqiConstitution
Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Basra court summons cleric over protest incitement
Shafaq News/ A court in Basra summoned Sheikh Abdul-Ghaffar Jabbar Fadel Al-Awadhi, a prominent figure from northern Basra, over allegations of inciting protests against the local government. According to an official document dated June 1, 2025, based on a complaint filed by the Basra Governorate Office, the Court for Publication and Media Issued ordered Al-Awadhi to appear within three days of notification, warning that failure to comply could result in an arrest warrant. In his first response to the legal action, Sheikh Al-Awadhi confirmed to Shafaq News that he will appear in court after the Eid holiday 'to reaffirm legitimate demands guaranteed by the constitution.' He also criticized the Basra government's treatment of demonstrators, describing it as 'negative and dismissive of citizens' rights.' Addressing a widely circulated image of him holding bottles of contaminated water, he noted that 'it reflects the painful reality faced by residents' and was not intended as a threat or act of incitement. Sheikh Haitham Al-Mansouri, leader of the Al-Sadiq Movement, expressed to Shafaq News his support for Sheikh Al-Awadhi and the protesters, indicating that the demonstrations stemmed from chronic neglect and deprivation in northern Basra—despite the region's wealth in natural resources. He also warned the governor, 'If you choose to open a judicial front against the demonstrators, then you are opening the door to the beginning of the end of your authority in Basra,' calling for a new chapter in relations with the province's residents. Additionally, legal expert Jaafar Ismail told Shafaq News, 'Rather than addressing a basic demand or reassuring citizens, the response has been to silence voices and suppress civil expression by exploiting legal provisions.' Article 38 of the Iraqi Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest, as well as freedom of expression and media. Articles 5 and 20 grant citizens the right to hold authorities accountable, Ismail said, arguing that the complaint lacks legal basis and does not amount to proof of criminal conduct. He concluded that the core charge—allegedly inciting protest—is not a crime in itself as long as the demonstrations are peaceful and constitutionally protected.
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Oil vs. Salaries: KRG-Baghdad feud pushes Iraq to the brink
Shafaq News/ As the Kurdistan Region's salary crisis resurfaces, alarms grow louder over the broader ramifications. The economic tension carries a potent political undertone that, if left unresolved, could destabilize Iraq's political framework. The dispute between Erbil and Baghdad reignited after the Kurdistan Region accused the federal government of "discrimination" in salary disbursement. The Region pointed to repeated delays in receiving dues despite earlier agreements. Baghdad countered by citing the Kurdistan Regional Government's failure to deliver oil and non-oil revenues as stipulated in the federal budget law. To contain the escalating crisis, the federal government is expected to dispatch a financial advance to the Kurdistan Region within two days to ensure employees receive their salaries before Eid al-Adha (June 6-9). However, nothing has changed so far. Economic War Kurdish political analyst Mohammed Zangana describes the allocation of funds as 'not charity toward the people of Kurdistan, but a constitutional and legal right.' He references the tripartite budget law (2023–2025) and a 2024 Federal Court ruling mandating salary payments from the federal treasury to the Kurdistan Region. Zangana characterizes the ongoing situation as an 'economic war waged by Baghdad against the region since 2014,' urging for a simple resolution: 'separate the salaries of Kurdistan's employees from political bickering and disputes.' The agreement stipulates that the Kurdistan Region must send 400,000 barrels of oil daily to federal depots in exchange for employee salaries. However, those depots can handle no more than 80,000 barrels per day. 'Even the amount sent hasn't yielded a single cent,' Zangana notes, adding, 'no agreement has been reached on the price per barrel.' On the Kurdistan Democratic Party's threat to withdraw from the political process, Zangana believes the Coordination Framework (CF), a predominantly Shiite group that controls the Iraqi government, fully grasps the danger posed by such a move. 'This is a warning to the Framework,' he asserts. Zangana also highlights a 'lack of will' from Baghdad to pass an oil and gas law, explaining that such legislation would grant provinces and regions constitutional autonomy under Articles 112 and 121 of the Iraqi Constitution. He foresees only temporary solutions ahead: 'There won't be any radical remedies—just patchwork until the elections.' Financial Strain Parliamentarian Mukhtar al-Mousawi, a senior figure in the Badr Organization, a movement within the Framework, expects the two sides to reach a 'mutual understanding.' 'The Region's recurring threats to withdraw from the political process whenever it faces liquidity issues and pressures the federal government—that's not a sound approach,' he states in remarks to Shafaq News, urging the Region to 'reorganize its affairs according to its own budget.' Al-Mousawi explains that Iraq is currently navigating a financial crunch, and the 2025 budget has yet to reach Parliament. 'Meanwhile, the Region resists accountability on how it manages oil and gas export revenues.' Constitution and Oil & Gas Law Ibrahim al-Sikani, a member of the State of Law Coalition led by Nouri al-Maliki, another CF group, strikes a balancing tone. 'The Constitution governs all national matters from north to south, especially Kurdistan Region salaries and the ongoing oil and gas issues,' he tells Shafaq News. He places the responsibility for salary payments squarely on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. 'The Coordination Framework is blamed because the shortfall comes from its nominee, Al-Sudani, but the Framework won't tolerate any failure from the government toward the Iraqi people—north or south.' Al-Sikani also discloses that the Framework has resolved to form a delegation to visit the Kurdistan Region and negotiate solutions, emphasizing that passing the O il and Gas Law would eliminate recurring disputes. He calls on Parliament to act, urging sessions to approve the law and the budget—still stalled in the Prime Minister's office— 'despite its direct impact on the lives of the Iraqi people.' 'I urge al-Sudani to hold a parliamentary session to lay all the facts bare before the public.' In this context, political analyst Aed al-Hilali appeals to all political blocs to engage in frank and direct dialogue with Kurdish representatives. 'The salary issue is no longer bearable, especially with the Kurdistan Democratic Party threatening to boycott the political process, which could lead to the collapse of Iraq's political system,' he cautions. Still, al-Hilali voices cautious optimism, 'The salary crisis may soon be resolved, but fundamental solutions remain necessary,' He outlines key steps forward—revisiting the Constitution and amending certain articles that 'may help achieve lasting resolutions.'
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Sunni chief calls for Kurdish salaries before Adha feast
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Iraqi National Project Secretary-General Jamal al-Dari, called for an immediate, temporary solution to ensure salary distribution to employees and retirees in the Kurdistan Region before Eid al-Adha, warning the political class against jeopardizing civil peace. Posting on X, al-Dari asserted that disputes between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government will persist without adherence to the Iraqi Constitution, the political agreement framework, and the government's ministerial program—particularly regarding the long-delayed oil and gas law. لن تُحل الخلافات بين الحكومة الاتحادية وحكومة إقليم كردستان ما لم يتم الالتزام بتنفيذ فقرات الدستور العراقي، وورقة الاتفاق السياسي، والمنهاج الوزاري الذي تعهدت به الحكومة الحالية، خصوصاً فيما يتعلق بإقرار قانون النفط والغاز.إذا كان هناك سوء فهم أو خلافات تتعلق بتنفيذ التشريعات… — Jamal Al Dhari جمال الضاري (@AldhariJamal) June 4, 2025 "It is crucial to separate the livelihoods of Iraqis, including our people in the Region, from such issues and move quickly toward a temporary and urgent solution to guarantee salary payments before Eid al-Adha,' al-Dari urged, emphasizing the need for a serious and comprehensive dialogue to either implement existing agreements or forge new ones. Later, the Iraqi Parliament's presidency expressed regret over the federal government's decision on Kurdistan Region salaries and urged a reversal and immediate disbursement. In response, Kurdish government condemned the Federal Ministry of Finance's move to halt salary funding, calling it 'unconstitutional, illegal, and a form of collective punishment against citizens.' Kurdistan Democratic Party senior figure Hoshyar Zebari also reacted on X, describing the federal decision as 'collective punishment targeting the people of the Region,' warning that such action would not go without 'political consequences.' قرار حكومة السيد السوداني الاطار التنسيقي بايقاف تمويل رواتب موظفي اقليم كردستان و في توقيت سئ جدا لمعاقبة جماعية و تجويع لمواطني الاقليم من خلال التشبث بحجج مالية وإدارية سوف لن يمر مرور الكرام و بدون عواقب فنحن لا نعيش في مدينة فاضلة و تاريخنا السياسي يؤشر بان المعتدي سيعاقب. — Hoshyar Zebari (@HoshyarZebari) June 3, 2025 Earlier, Kurdish political parties affirmed that 'the decision is political and contradicts the will of the people of Kurdistan and the Region's constitutional status,' stressing that 'dialogue and negotiation remain the best path to resolving disputes.' As Eid al-Adha approaches, thousands of state employees in Kurdistan Region face financial strain due to delayed salary payments, casting a heavy shadow over holiday preparations. Public calls have intensified for urgent and lasting solutions to the ongoing salary crisis, which continues to deepen economic hardship across the Region.
Shafaq News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Chaldean Archbishop hails President Barzani's Christian support in Iraq
Shafaq News/ Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda praised Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani for his continued support of Iraq's Christian community. Speaking at the opening of the Church Endowment Administration Conference in Erbil on Monday, Warda, who also chairs the Catholic University's Board of Trustees in Erbil, described Barzani's presence as a 'powerful gesture' of solidarity and respect for Christian heritage. 'This is a pivotal moment in preserving Christian identity in Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region,' he said, highlighting church endowments as 'vital links' to the community's historical roots and crediting the Region's leadership with protecting religious freedoms and fostering coexistence. Referencing scripture, Warda framed the Church's role as one of responsible stewardship and pointed to Article 43 of the Iraqi Constitution, which guarantees religious groups the right to manage their institutions—affirming their authority to protect and sustain their legacy.
Iraqi News
23-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Oil Ministry: U.S. Companies' Direct Deals with Kurdistan Region without Federal Approval Are Unconstitutional
Baghdad – INA The Ministry of Oil confirmed on Friday that any direct agreements between U.S. companies and the Kurdistan Regional Government, conducted outside the authority of the federal government, violate the Iraqi Constitution. In a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the Ministry emphasized its ongoing commitment to collaborate with U.S. companies in developing oil and gas fields through contracts and partnerships that fully comply with the Constitution and the rulings of the Federal Supreme Court. The statement added that the Ministry maintains active contracts with U.S. firms across various oil sectors, including well drilling, petroleum services, and consultancy. It affirmed that while it welcomes cooperation with these companies, all dealings must be conducted through the federal government and its official channels. Any direct arrangements with the Kurdistan Regional Government that bypass federal oversight are unconstitutional and violate Iraqi law.
