Christians Concerned Over Lack of Religious Tolerance in Iraqi Constitution

September 24, 2005

Source: The Christian Post

http://www.christianpost.com/article/middleeast/471/section/christians.concerned.that.iraqi.constitution.lacks.religious.tolerance/1.htm

On September 24, 2005 The Christian Post reported, "Since the Iraq draft constitution was finalized on Sunday Sept. 18, Christian leaders have expressed deep concern about the threat to religious tolerance that could emerge upon the adoption of the constitution in October. Prior to the passage of the draft constitution by the Iraqi parliament last Sunday, the patriarch of Baghdad for the Chaldeans had a meeting with the president and prime minister of Iraq on behalf of the Iraqi Bishops’ Conference to make a last-minute call on the change of the draft constitution, according to a report by the Catholic News Service (CNS)... The controversy over the draft constitution lies on Article 2.1(a), which states 'no law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.' According to CNS, Christian leaders fear it will inevitably lead to the country... being governed by Shariah, or Islamic law, and therefore threatens the tolerance towards non-Muslim religions."