Iraq's president calls for revision of law banning booze
Parliament adopted a law banning sale, import and production of alcohol over the weekend
Iraqi President Fuad Masum. PHOTO: REUTERS
BAGHDAD:
Iraqi President Fuad Masum called on Wednesday for parliament to revise a law passed over the weekend that included a provision banning alcohol.
The ban on the sale, import and production of alcohol, which was slipped into a draft law on municipalities in parliament on Saturday, has been criticised as an infringement on minority rights.
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Masum's statement did not specifically mention the alcohol provision, but did say the law in question should be revised, and criticised the surreptitious way in which an article was inserted into it as being inconsistent with "democratic legal principles".
The president called for "the revision of this law", and for it to respect "the freedoms and rights of citizens of different religions and doctrines," the statement from his office said.
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The Iraqi constitution says that the president has the power to "approve and issue laws enacted by the House of Representatives".
But it does not state that he can reject them, and it was unclear how parliament would respond to Masum's statement.
Iraqi President Fuad Masum called on Wednesday for parliament to revise a law passed over the weekend that included a provision banning alcohol.
The ban on the sale, import and production of alcohol, which was slipped into a draft law on municipalities in parliament on Saturday, has been criticised as an infringement on minority rights.
Iraq parliament in surprise vote to ban alcohol
Masum's statement did not specifically mention the alcohol provision, but did say the law in question should be revised, and criticised the surreptitious way in which an article was inserted into it as being inconsistent with "democratic legal principles".
The president called for "the revision of this law", and for it to respect "the freedoms and rights of citizens of different religions and doctrines," the statement from his office said.
Iraq records largest displacement of Mosul operation
The Iraqi constitution says that the president has the power to "approve and issue laws enacted by the House of Representatives".
But it does not state that he can reject them, and it was unclear how parliament would respond to Masum's statement.