BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi Parliament remains deadlocked as key legislative initiatives—including land restitution for Kurds, amendments to the Shiite Personal Status Law, and a General Amnesty for Sunni prisoners—remain stalled due to ongoing political disagreements. Despite a recent one-month extension of the legislative period, consensus among the factions appears to be challenging.
On November 7, the Iraqi Parliament extended its legislative session by 30 days starting November 9, according to a statement from the House of Representatives’ media office.
Political analyst Ali Khafaji told Zoom News that Parliament plans to reconvene next week to address the impasse. However, he stressed that substantial political agreements are necessary for any progress. “Efforts must intensify to resolve these disputes and pass the stalled legislation,” Khafaji remarked.
The proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law, championed by Shiite factions, have faced significant resistance, with over 190 MPs retracting their support. Lawmakers cite concerns over the lack of transparency, arguing that the bill’s text remains unclear. Iraqi-Kurdish MP Sozan Mansour stated, “The text has not been shared with us, making it impossible to judge its impact. Advocates are pressuring us to vote without reviewing the full draft, only stating that it aligns with Sharia law from the Shiite perspective.”
Meanwhile, Shiite factions are imposing conditions for their backing of the General Amnesty Law, a key demand from Sunni representatives. Sunnis contend that the bill will benefit all Iraqis, including a significant number of Shiite prisoners. “This law isn’t exclusive tan Iraqio Sunnis; it could have even greater benefits for Shiites given the higher number of Shiite detainees,” said Adnan Burhan, a Sunni MP.
Kurdish MPs have signaled they will boycott the next session unless their proposed land restitution bill is included on the agenda. They, along with Sunni factions, are advocating for a comprehensive vote on all key bills as a package. However, the Shiite Coordination Framework opposes this approach, insisting on separate votes for each bill, deepening the political stalemate.
With reporting by Akam Fahmi from Baghdad.
