Church on 104th street.
8/29/2005
Iraq Constitution
The Iraqi Constitution (full version)
Here are snippets from the Iraqi Constitution:
Article (2):
1st — Islam is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation:
(a) No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.
(b) No law can be passed that contradicts the principles of democracy.
[It's two - two - two mints in one. Conflict between these two doctrines? Then I guess it goes to the Supreme Ruling Council (see below for membership requirements). ]
From the preamble:
"We the sons of Mesopotamia, land of the (messengers), prophets, resting place of the holy imams, the leaders of civilization and the creators of the alphabet, the cradle of arithmetic: on our land, the first law put in place by mankind was written; in our nation, the most noble era of justice in the politics of nations was laid down; on our soil, the followers of the prophet and the saints prayed, the philosophers and the scientists theorized and the writers and poets created."
[Okay, I'm fine with some boasting in the preamble, but subtle it's not].
Italics are mine.
* * *
YOUR RIGHTS: Article (17):
1st — Each person has the right to personal privacy as long as it does not violate the rights of others or general morality.
[The general morality phrase - that's like the Sanity Clause in Night at the Opera; and I'm fairly certain it will exclude me from the process].
* * *
Article (36): The state guarantees, as long as it does not violate public order and morality:
1st — the freedom of expressing opinion by all means.
* * *
5th — The accused is innocent until his guilt is proven in a just, legal court. The accused cannot be tried for the same accusation again after he has been freed unless new evidence appears.
* * *
7th — Court sessions will be open unless the court decides to make them secret.
* * *
10th — Punitive law shall not be applied retroactively unless it is best for the defendant.
[Father knows best]
* * *
ON BEING PRESIDENT:
3rd — have a good reputation and political experience and be known for his integrity, rectitude, justice and devotion to the homeland.
4th — not have been convicted of a crime that violates honor.
ON THE SUPREME COURT:
2nd — The Supreme Federal Court will be made up of a number of judges and experts in (Islamic Jurisprudence) and law, whose number and manner of selection (work) will be defined by a law that should be passed by two-thirds of the parliament members.
* * *
Do you think there are any loopholes in this? I had the feeling I was reading something from a Marx Brothers movie.
But remember, I am free to say this in Iraq unless they decide otherwise. And you are free to comment on this unless I decide to forbid it.
Here are snippets from the Iraqi Constitution:
Article (2):
1st — Islam is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation:
(a) No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.
(b) No law can be passed that contradicts the principles of democracy.
[It's two - two - two mints in one. Conflict between these two doctrines? Then I guess it goes to the Supreme Ruling Council (see below for membership requirements). ]
From the preamble:
"We the sons of Mesopotamia, land of the (messengers), prophets, resting place of the holy imams, the leaders of civilization and the creators of the alphabet, the cradle of arithmetic: on our land, the first law put in place by mankind was written; in our nation, the most noble era of justice in the politics of nations was laid down; on our soil, the followers of the prophet and the saints prayed, the philosophers and the scientists theorized and the writers and poets created."
[Okay, I'm fine with some boasting in the preamble, but subtle it's not].
Italics are mine.
* * *
YOUR RIGHTS: Article (17):
1st — Each person has the right to personal privacy as long as it does not violate the rights of others or general morality.
[The general morality phrase - that's like the Sanity Clause in Night at the Opera; and I'm fairly certain it will exclude me from the process].
* * *
Article (36): The state guarantees, as long as it does not violate public order and morality:
1st — the freedom of expressing opinion by all means.
* * *
5th — The accused is innocent until his guilt is proven in a just, legal court. The accused cannot be tried for the same accusation again after he has been freed unless new evidence appears.
* * *
7th — Court sessions will be open unless the court decides to make them secret.
* * *
10th — Punitive law shall not be applied retroactively unless it is best for the defendant.
[Father knows best]
* * *
ON BEING PRESIDENT:
3rd — have a good reputation and political experience and be known for his integrity, rectitude, justice and devotion to the homeland.
4th — not have been convicted of a crime that violates honor.
ON THE SUPREME COURT:
2nd — The Supreme Federal Court will be made up of a number of judges and experts in (Islamic Jurisprudence) and law, whose number and manner of selection (work) will be defined by a law that should be passed by two-thirds of the parliament members.
* * *
Do you think there are any loopholes in this? I had the feeling I was reading something from a Marx Brothers movie.
But remember, I am free to say this in Iraq unless they decide otherwise. And you are free to comment on this unless I decide to forbid it.
Bloomberg Bldg.
The Bloomberg Building - I didn't know what it was when I first walked by it - is a tremendous sweep of glass and steel which almost whips around a wide space like a wave. I walked into the curl and was about to point el camera up when two guards approached waving their hands at me from about fifty yards away.
I put the camera back down and waited for them.
I know - no pictures, I was thinking to myself. But I wanted to hear them say it. So I just stood there like a confused tourist.
"No pictures! No pictures!" Both of them shouted.
Now they were near me.
"Beautiful building," I replied. "When was it built?"
And they told me it was finished in 2004. While I was chatting with them two other guards appeared - off to my left. These were higher level guys, with those wires going into their ears, and although it was night - they were wearing dark glasses and talking into their hands.
"Well, thank you very much for your time..." And I began to walk away past the two secret service looking guys. One of them had what looked like a PDA and was writing in it.
Oh well, would have made a nice picture. I'm sure I could go on the web and find one just as good as anything I was going to take.
I put the camera back down and waited for them.
I know - no pictures, I was thinking to myself. But I wanted to hear them say it. So I just stood there like a confused tourist.
"No pictures! No pictures!" Both of them shouted.
Now they were near me.
"Beautiful building," I replied. "When was it built?"
And they told me it was finished in 2004. While I was chatting with them two other guards appeared - off to my left. These were higher level guys, with those wires going into their ears, and although it was night - they were wearing dark glasses and talking into their hands.
"Well, thank you very much for your time..." And I began to walk away past the two secret service looking guys. One of them had what looked like a PDA and was writing in it.
Oh well, would have made a nice picture. I'm sure I could go on the web and find one just as good as anything I was going to take.
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