Latest news with #RestitutionLaw
Shafaq News
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Anbar's former Governor included in Amnesty Law
Shafaq News/ A document issued by the Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court has revealed that former Anbar Governor Ali Farhan Al-Dulaimi is included in Iraq's General Amnesty Law. The document stated that Al-Dulaimi, along with four other individuals, will not be released until it is confirmed that they are not wanted in other legal cases. Al-Dulaimi, who was sentenced to one year in prison in July 2024 for appointing advisors in violation of regulations, is among those covered by the recent developments. A few days ago, Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council directed the prison department to implement "immediate release" for individuals under the general amnesty law without requiring the finalization of the decision. The Iraqi Parliament had passed several controversial laws on January 21, including amendments to the General Amnesty Law, the Personal Status Law, and the Restitution Law.
Shafaq News
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's PM orders probe into military assault on Kurdish farmers in Kirkuk
Shafaq News/ Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has ordered a high-level investigation into the recent assault on a group of Kurdish farmers in Kirkuk by Iraqi army personnel, the Security Media Cell said on Tuesday. Al-Sudani also instructed the Deputy Minister of Justice to visit Kirkuk and oversee legal procedures concerning disputed farmlands between federal territories and the Kurdistan Region, an issue that Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha reaffirmed a day earlier. The Joint Operations Command urged all security forces—including the army, police, Peshmerga, Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), and intelligence agencies—to exercise restraint and adhere to legal and national directives. It also called on political factions to 'prioritize national interests, uphold constitutional law, and support security forces in maintaining stability and security.' The altercation stemmed from a land ownership dispute. Kurdish farmers in Shanaga and nearby villages attempted to cultivate lands legally restored to them after the Iraqi Parliament approved the Restitution Law, but army forces allegedly prevented them from doing so, leading to the confrontation. Kirkuk's governor confirmed on Monday that the soldiers responsible for the attack had been detained and that an investigative committee was established to examine the incident. He also requested the withdrawal of military forces from the area. A security source told Shafaq News that an order from the Ministry of Defense was issued to detain a military unit from the 8th Division of the Iraqi Army following its clash with Kurdish farmers in Shanaga village, Dibis district, northwest of Kirkuk. The detained soldiers are being held at their division headquarters pending an investigation. Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani strongly condemned the assault, comparing it to 'historical atrocities' committed against Kurds. "The sight of Kurdish farmers being mistreated and forcibly prevented from reclaiming their lands evokes memories of the Al- Anfal campaign, chemical attacks, and genocide inflicted upon our people in the past century," Barzani said in a statement. He described the military's actions as 'chauvinistic and inhumane,' accusing them of 'persecuting innocent Kurdish farmers whose only crime is being the rightful owners of the land.' The Kurdistan Region Presidency also denounced the incident, calling it "unacceptable in any form." After the Iraqi parliament approved the Restitution Law to return confiscated properties to their rightful owners, there have been significant hopes across various segments of society that the new law would include them.
Shafaq News
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Supreme Court to rule on controversial laws
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for the examination of appeals related to the third session of the Council of Representatives. The Court will assess on Feb. 11 the validity of the voting process on the three controversial laws and review constitutional challenges to specific provisions of the General Amnesty Law. On January 21, the Iraqi parliament session passed several controversial laws, including amendments to the General Amnesty Law, the Personal Status Law, and the Restitution Law in Kirkuk. The session also witnessed the collection of signatures for the dismissal of Speaker of the Parliament, Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, in protest of the voting process, which some lawmakers deemed unconstitutional. Last Tuesday, the Federal Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction halting the implementation of the three laws approved by parliament. This decision faced widespread rejection from Sunni political forces and, to a lesser extent, Kurdish factions. Meanwhile, Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council ruled on Wednesday that laws passed by parliament cannot be suspended before their official publication in the government gazette. The council emphasized that Iraqi courts must enforce the amended General Amnesty Law, noting that Article 129 of the Constitution prohibits the suspension of laws unless deemed unconstitutional by a final court ruling. The council further clarified that injunctive orders are temporary and do not have the binding authority of final judicial decisions. As of Thursday, courts in various Iraqi provinces have started implementing the amendments to the General Amnesty Law, under the provisions and instructions issued by the Supreme Judicial Council, despite opposition from the Federal Supreme Court.
Shafaq News
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Federal Court awaits on General Amnesty Law decision
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Federal Supreme Court decided, on Thursday to postpone issuing its ruling on a lawsuit filed by members of the parliament regarding the General Amnesty Law. A judicial source told Shafaq News that the court deferred its decision after receiving a response from the Legal Affairs Directorate of the Parliament concerning the lawsuit against the law. The source declined to provide further details. On January 21, the Iraqi parliament session passed several controversial laws, including amendments to the General Amnesty Law, the Personal Status Law, and the Restitution Law in Kirkuk. The session also witnessed the collection of signatures for the dismissal of Speaker of the Parliament, Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, in protest of the voting process, which some lawmakers deemed unconstitutional. Last Tuesday, the Federal Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction halting the implementation of the three laws approved by parliament. This decision faced widespread rejection from Sunni political forces and, to a lesser extent, Kurdish factions. Meanwhile, Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council ruled on Wednesday that laws passed by parliament cannot be suspended before their official publication in the government gazette. The council emphasized that Iraqi courts must enforce the amended General Amnesty Law, noting that Article 129 of the Constitution prohibits the suspension of laws unless deemed unconstitutional by a final court ruling. The council further clarified that injunctive orders are temporary and do not have the binding authority of final judicial decisions. As of today, courts in various Iraqi provinces have started implementing the amendments to the General Amnesty Law, under the provisions and instructions issued by the Supreme Judicial Council, despite opposition from the Federal Supreme Court.
Shafaq News
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Amnesty Law suspended: Tahrir Square open, work halted in three provinces
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Interior Ministry dismissed reports circulating on social media that security forces had closed Tahrir Square in central Baghdad in anticipation of protests against the suspension of the General Amnesty Law. 'The reports are false. All roads leading to the square remain open, and no closure has been imposed,' a ministry source told Shafaq News. Earlier on Tuesday, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court issued an order suspending the implementation of three laws: the Personal Status Law, the General Amnesty Law, and the Restitution Law. The ruling has sparked strong reactions from Sunni political forces, with some calling for mass protests against the court. Sunni leaders further accused the court of deliberately blocking the law's enforcement for political reasons. Authorities in the Sunni-majority provinces of Al-Anbar, Nineveh, and Saladin suspended official working hours in response to the decision. However, independent MP Hadi Al-Salami urged Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani to dismiss the governors of these provinces for suspending work, arguing that the move violates Article 94 of the constitution and that Law No. 12 of 2024 on official holidays does not grant governors the authority to suspend work in government institutions.
