Yazidi Kurds condemn approval of the new Iraqi religious law

Yazidi temple, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: Reuters

DUHOK, Kurdistan region ‘Iraq’,— A non-profit organization, Yazda, strongly condemns the new civil law that the Iraqi Parliament passed in its session held in Baghdad on Tuesday, October 27, 2015.

The new legislation contains a bias against minority religions and threatens the polarized religious order in Iraq to the detriment of Iraq’s religious minorities. The new legislation does not take into account the doctrines and beliefs of other faiths in Iraq. This bias is not in line with the Iraqi Constitution or the principle of equality and represents a blatant violation of the basic principles of democracy, human rights, and more importantly freedom of belief.

The new legislation – like many preceding Iraqi laws that discriminate against other faiths and undermine human rights – is unjust to the people of other faiths. This legislation provides legal rights for non-Muslims to convert to Islam while it criminalizes conversion of Muslims to other religions.

This legislative double standard is out of line with the basic principles of freedom of individual belief, equality of the rights of citizenship, and social justice.

Under the new legislation the minor children will be forced to follow their parents who converted to the Islamic faith regardless of their choice, when one of their parents willingly converts to Islam.

Religious legislation of this type is an abusive use of political power by the Iraqi State which undermines the existence of other faiths and minorities in Iraq. Such legislations are clear indications that the religious chauvinism remains an essential element of the so-called “New” Iraq.

We, as Yazidis and a native people of Iraq, and the victims of religious persecution and genocide, hope that the Iraqi parliament and its members will reconsider this legislation, and commit themselves to a legal framework that will safeguard the rights of all Iraqi citizens, especially the rights of native Iraqis, including Yazidis, Christians, Mandaeans, Shabak, Kakais, and other Iraqi minorities.

Yazda considers the new legislation to be an affront against freedom of belief.

Yazda demands the following amendments to the Iraqi civil laws:

1. Amend the law to ensure equal rights for all faiths. If the legislators to allow conversion of religion, then this shall allow Muslims to convert to other faiths as well.

2. Adopt a modern civil law that treats all individuals and citizens equally without prejudice regardless religious belief, race, color, and political orientation.

3. Legislate amendments to ensure that Yazidis, Christians, and other religious minorities groups in Iraq will be protected under the umbrella of the Iraqi civil law.

Yazda will work with all its capacity to be the voice of Yazidis and other religious minorities and will reach out to local and international human rights organizations.

Yazda calls upon all religious and political figures of Iraqi minorities to condemn this legislation and lobby on the national and international level to produce a just amendment to this law.

On the same issue, a Kurdish bishop criticizes Iraq’s Parliament for rejecting an amendment to a controversial law. If a parent converts to Islam, his or her children are automatically Muslim and unable to change religion upon reaching legal age. For the prelate, this constitutes “genocide” in a country that knows neither freedom nor respect. Now he fears it might be extended to Kurdistan.