Transitional Law Lacks Essential Freedoms

11 February 2004

In Iraq, a draft of the Transitional Administrative Law scheduled to take effect on February 28 is raising questions about basic human rights, particularly freedom of religion. This transitional document is intended to be used as the framework for a new constitution for Iraq to be in effect by December 2005.

^{Coalition Provisional Authority
Administrator L. Paul Bremer}

While not instituting the strict version of Sharia law found in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the draft indicates that the country's legal system will be based on Islamic law. In early January, the Iraqi Governing Council ruled that civil family law must be based on Islamic Sharia law, rather than the secular courts set up under Saddam Hussein. According to the November 11 prayer bulletin from the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Prayer List, under the proposed Transitional Administrative Law, non-Muslims will be limited in their freedom of religious practice and Muslims will not have the freedom to convert to another religion.

Pray that this draft will be amended to include full religious freedom, including the freedom to change religion. Pray for peace and stability during the continuing upheaval in Iraq. Pray that U.S. President Bush will insist on religious liberty for all Iraqi citizens.

We encourage you to express your concerns in a polite and reasoned way to President Bush and the American government. Contact information is available through our website at https://www.vomcanada.com/links.htm. The Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority can be contacted through http://www.cpa-iraq.org/CPA_contact.html.

For more information on persecution facing Christians in Iraq, go to https://www.vomcanada.com/iraq.htm.

Iraq

Current Ministry Projects
VOMC is partnering to teach and equip persecuted Christian women sewing skills so that they can provide a sustainable source of income for their families and give them the opportunity to be witnesses for Christ through their new businesses. VOMC partners to provide biblical training on discipleship and the theology of persecution to Muslim Background Believers.

Project Funds: Women’s Ministry, Equipping the Saints, Underground Church
Country Information
Population
41,266,109 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Arab (75-80), Kurdish (15-20), other (5)

Religion (%)
Islam (95-98), Christianity (1), other (1-4)

Leader
President Latif Rashid (2022)

Government type
Federal parliamentary republic

Legal system
Mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Iraq
Pray for the protection of the remaining believers in Iraq during this time of upheaval and danger. May many churches and Christian relief organizations seize the opportunity to provide greatly needed assistance and ministry to the numerous suffering people of this war-torn nation. As God’s work of healing, provision and restoration takes place, pray that a stable democratic government will be established.