Editor,
With few exceptions, the news about the current draft of the Iraqi constitution is dominated by stories reporting the rift with Sunni Arabs, the threats to veto the constitution, the worries about excessive federalism, and the strong Islamic tone of certain parts of the constitution. This includes Article 2, which asserts, among other things, that no law can be passed that contradicts the established principles of Islam, but which also asserts that no law can be passed that contradicts the principles of democracy or the rights and basic freedoms outlined in the constitution.
I want to offer a different perspective. This draft of the Iraqi constitution contains principles and guarantees that are the dream of many reformers in the United States. Here is a representative sample:
Multi-lingual education (Article 4): Iraqis are guaranteed the right to educate their children in their mother tongues, such as Turkomen or Assyrian, in government educational institutions.
Non-intervention (Article 8): Iraq shall abide by the principles of good neighborliness and by not intervening in the internal affairs of the other countries, and it shall seek to peacefully resolve conflicts and shall respect its international obligations.
Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (Article 9): The Iraqi government shall respect and implement Iraq's international commitments regarding the non-proliferation, non-development, non-production, and non-use of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons
Equal rights (Article 14): Iraqis are equal before the law without discrimination because of sex, ethnicity, nationality, origin, color, religion, sect, belief, opinion, or social or economic status.
Equal opportunity (Article 16): Equal opportunity is a right guaranteed to all Iraqis, and the state shall take the necessary steps to achieve this.
The right to privacy (Article 17): Each person has the right to personal privacy.
The right to work (Article 22): Work is a right for all Iraqis in a way that guarantees them a good life.
Tax exemption (Article 28): Low-income people should be exempted from taxes in a way that guarantees maintaining the minimum level necessary for a living.
Mothers, children, and seniors (Article 29): The state shall guarantee the protection of motherhood, childhood, and old age. Economic exploitation of children in any form is banned and the state shall take measures to guarantee their protection.
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The welfare state (Articles 30-32): The state guarantees social and health insurance and works to protect citizens from illiteracy, fear, and poverty and provides them with housing. Every Iraqi has the right to health service. The state cares for the disabled and those with special needs and guarantees their rehabilitation to integrate them in society
Protecting the environment (Article 33): The state guarantees protection and preservation of the environment and biological diversity.
Free education (Article 34): Free education is a right for Iraqis in all its stages.
This constitution, if passed and implemented, will be a great achievement of the Iraqi people.
Aladdin M. Yaqub
UNM faculty
