Iraq secularists denounce "Islamist" constitution

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HAM421341.htm

BAGHDAD, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Secular Iraqis said on Wednesday a proposed new constitution left no room for doubt about the Islamist path the country was heading down two years after a U.S.-led invasion was supposed to produce greater freedoms.

The document presented to parliament on Monday is suffused with the language of political Islam in defining the state, and assigns a primary role to Islam as a source for legislation.

"The draft aborts the democratic process Iraqis hoped for and is a big victory for political Islam," said writer Adel Abdel-Amir. "Islamic law, not the people, has become the source of authority."

The draft says Islam is the official religion of the state and there can be no law that contradicts the "fixed principles of its rulings". The preamble says the constitution responds to "the call of our religious and national leaders and the insistence of our great religious authorities".

[maxsolomon]

1. there are iraqi secularists?

not for long!

[Eloriel]

8. Iraq was entirely secular in its govt and mostly its social life

under Saddam. He himself was quite secular, tho he made a bit of a show of being Islamic when he had to.

This is a MAJOR step backward, and it's heartbreaking.

[VegasWolf]

2. or, in Pat Robertson's opinion, "A very GOoD Constitution!" nt

[underpants]

3. Step 1-apply for political asylum in the US Step2- come to the US

Step 3- Iran or alQaeda uses this free pass to slip through questionables
Step 4-Large number of Terrorists in the US

[krkaufman]

4. Nice catch by Salon contributor... Safia Taleb al-Suhail

Tim Grieve posting to Salon's War Room, regarding the above Reuter's story...

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/index.html?blog=/politics/war_room/2005/08/25/women/index.html

Remember Safia Taleb al-Suhail?

She was the Iraqi woman George W. Bush trotted out for his State of the Union address earlier this year, the daughter of a man murdered by Saddam Hussein who provided the feel-good moment of the president's performance

...

Suhail, who is now Iraq's ambassador to Egypt, believes that the draft Iraqi constitution represents a major setback for the women of her country. ...

She is concerned -- as many Iraqis are -- that the draft constitution allows religious sects to run Iraq's family courts, likely leaving decisions about divorce, inheritance and other issues important to women in the hands of Islamic clerics. ...

Suhail said the United States has sold out Iraq's women in the drive to get a constitution -- any constitution -- approved by Iraq's National Assembly. ...

[geckosfeet]

6. Yeah well its not like shrubbish and his theocons ever had any real

say. It is starting to look like he was played big time by the Iranian Islamists and maybe even Bin Ladens horde to get Saddam out and fundies in.

Good job georgie boy. You stupid piece of crap.

on edit: stupid

[Just Me]

5. So, NOW will EVERYONE accept this wasn't about spreading "democracy",...

,...which was like the 5th or 6th afterthought rationale for waging an illegal, aggressive war on a sovereign nation?

Hell-friggin-LOOOO?

:shrug:

BushCo and the neoCON regime defrauded, exploited, killed, maimed, destroyed, and greatly profitted (still profits) from an illegal, immoral, aggressive war based upon intentional deception.

:grr:

[PassingFair]

7. Forget WMD, forget REGIME CHANGE forget DEMOCRACY

it's all about the FREEDOM!
Let freedom reign!
Freedom freedom freedom freedom, oh, you get the picture.
It's about FREEDOM!

On Edit: :sarcasm: