Endowment law for Iraq's Christians, Yazidis and Sabeans almost ready
22/02/2012 10:58DUHOK, Feb. 22 (AKnews) - Iraq's Religious Endowments (Awqaf) Committee is set to finalize the Awqaf endowment law for Christians, Yazidis and Sabean Mandaeans in a bid to strengthen the rights of the three groups. 
The law will also replace the word "sect" with "religion" when used to describe the groups.
Committee member Sharif Suleiman said: "We're seeking to cancel any injustice or marginalization or prejudice against the people of the three religions due to the establishment of the endowment during the days of the civil governor Paul Bremer."
When Iraq's Awqaf Ministry disbanded in 2003 the Christian and Other Religions Endowment Council was formed during the governing period of US administrator Bremer. The move came after the Governing Council failed to choose a Minister of Awqaf because of sectarianism disputes. The decision was made to create three councils: one for Shias, one for Sunnis and one for non-Muslims. The latter covers Christians, Yazidis and Sabeans.
"According to the new law the management of the Awqaf will be restructured and the rights of [Christians, Yazidis and Sabeans] will be kept in terms of the distribution of the budget allocated to this endowment, according to the... population," Suleiman added.
He explained that there are three proposals for the management of the Christian, Yazidi and Sabean endowment council. The first calls for a president and two vice presidents. The second concerns the development of the presidency body and the third stipulates that the presidency post should rotate between the three religions.
"The Yazidis have the right to head of the endowment council as they are the second religion in Iraq, after the declining number of Christians because of their migration out of the country."
Iraq's religious minorities hold 14 seats in the country's Council of Representatives: seven for Yazidis, five for Christians, one for Sabeans and one for Shabaks.
By Khudr Khallat
RN/DM/AKnews