Yonadam Kanna stands against the proposed Iraqi Federal Court reforms

SBS Assyrian correspondent from Duhok, Naseem Sadiq, interviewed the Hon. Younadam Kanna, Secretary general of Assyrian Democratic Movement and member of the Iraqi Parliament, in regards to some opposition to a Papal visit to Iraq and also about the proposed changes to the Iraqi Federal Court.

Iraqi MP, Younadam Kanna. Source: ADM.jpg

Mr Kanna said if people searched Google about the Papal visit, they would find more than one billion viewers watched Pope Francis' visit to Iraq. This was a historical event as Pope Francis was the first Pope from the Roman Catholic Church in to visit Iraq. But this huge interest also fuelled hatred and envy from some quarters, he said.

Pope Francis' entry to Franso Hariri Stadium for his Mass. Source: Vatican media.jpg

Despite the state reception for Pope Francis' visit and the grandeur surrounding it, there were some opposing voices by some Islamic extremists, who saw the event as blasphemy.

The Pope Francis Mass in Erbil. Source: arabnews.jpg

In the Kurdistan Region, a Muslim cleric was allegedly promoting hatreful rhetoric in Mosques and on social media.

Mr Kanna says "this is a one in a thousand sick in mind and backward thinking person. He was expelled a few years ago from the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the government of the region."

There had been talks with the Attorney General and the President of KRG, for some decisive actions to be taken against him, he said. 

The other topic discussed was the recommendation to the Iraqi parliament in regards to the Federal Court changes. One was a recommendation by the Iraqi President to amend the number of Judges in the court. Mr Kanna said this was an easy matter to resolve.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/18012018

Mr Kanna holding the interim constitution in 2004 Source: Joao Silva, New York times

The second recommendation, which Mr Kanna showed his concern and rejection of was changes to article 92 of the constitution, which currently states that the Federal Court consist of Judges, Islamic Shariah scholars or in Arabic (Ulamaa) and a law expert. Here there were two big complications, he said, naamely article 3 and article 12 of the constitution.

Mr Kanna said opposers to the amendments felt that those two matters had been pre arranged beforehand. The constitution states the Federal Court should have nine members. Currently, there were four Sunnis, four Shiats and one Christian Judges.

The new proposal eliminates the Christian and the Turkoman inclusion. Not only that, but they awere adding three Shariah Scholars or (Fuqahaa). They have the right to veto any new legislations that contradicts Shariah laws.

Mr Kanna says few of us Christian MPs supported by some Kurdish and Arab moderate MPs, stood against the voting for this amendment. Now the matter has been postponed for further discussion.

Naseem Sadiq interviewing Mr Kanna. Source: Naseem.jpg