Press Release
The Farce of Enacting Secular Laws in Harmful States
(Translated)

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the Iraqi Parliament held a decisive session during which it voted on three trivial laws:

-A proposed amendment to the Personal Status Law No. 188 of 1959.

-A draft law to restore properties covered by certain dissolved Revolutionary Command Council decisions to their original owners.

- A second amendment to the General Amnesty Law No. 27 of 2016.

What was unusual about this session was that the voting process did not follow standard procedures, such as raising hands, counting votes, or confirming a majority. Even more peculiar was that these three laws were grouped together and voted on collectively, rather than individually, reflecting sectarian quotas: the Shiite faction supported the Personal Status Law, the Sunni faction backed the General Amnesty Law, and the Kurdish faction endorsed the Property Law.

The session witnessed heated debates and chaos, with some members even climbing onto the parliamentary platform. One MP tweeted on Platform X that "Parliament passed the amendments to the Personal Status Law and the General Amnesty Law without MPs raising their hands for approval; the vote was simply passed." She added that "some members of the presidency and parliament left the hall due to these farcical actions."

A video obtained by Shafaq News Agency showed MPs collecting signatures to dismiss Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani over the manner in which the three laws were passed.

What is concerning about these laws is their ambiguity and their potential to be exploited by corrupt individuals and those with personal agendas.

The General Amnesty Law, which Sunni politicians attempt to use to win over the Sunni public and gain their support by portraying it as lifting the injustice from many innocents, has been exploited by the corrupt and thieves. This includes the largest theft operation known as "The Deal of the Century," amounting to more than three trillion Iraqi dinars, with some directly involved culprits being well-known.

The Personal Status Law, which may lead to depriving women of rights safeguarded for them by Islamic Sharia. This is entirely due to the flexibility of the law and the existence of weak and refutable opinions.

The Property Law, through the manner of its interpretation, will result in the confiscation of thousands of dunams of land inhabited by Sunni Arabs in Kirkuk, and the seizure of all state-owned land under the claim that it is Kurdish territory.

People of Iraq: It is neither surprising nor strange to witness the enactment of laws by a legislative body composed of individuals who are the worst among society, self-proclaimed as representatives of the people. Even the most pious and knowledgeable individuals cannot claim the right to legislate, as human beings are inherently flawed, limited, and in need. Consequently, any outcomes of their legislative efforts will inevitably result in disagreements, disparities, and contradictions. How much worse is it, then, when the legislators are ignorant and corrupt?

The chaos, disputes, and bickering you see in the legislative parliament do not reflect any form of health or progress, as some might claim. Both supporters and opponents of these laws are incapable of offering genuine solutions. They all present ideas driven by their limited understanding and personal interests, leaving no room for hope or benefit from them.

People of Iraq: True goodness and justice exist solely in the divine law of the Creator, for He alone, glory be to Him, has the right to legislate. He created humanity and knows what is best for them. Among His names are Al-Alleem (The All-Knowing), Al-Hakem (The Wise), and Al-Khabeer (The All-Aware). If we were to implement the laws of our Lord, we would not need these patchwork secular laws that only worsen problems and exacerbate crises.

For this reason, Hizb ut Tahrir, the sincere guide that does not betray its people, calls upon you to join its ranks in working earnestly for the resumption of Islamic life and the implementation of Allah's Shariah. This system ensures justice for the oppressed, preserves the rights of all citizens, honors women while protecting their dignity and virtue, and safeguards wealth and property for all the state's citizens, granting you honor, happiness, and dignity.

Allah Almighty says:  [لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَاباً فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ] “We have certainly sent down to you a Book in which is your mention. Then will you not reason?”[Surat Al-Anbiya:10].