The Iraq War
Iraqi Constitution Created
March 8th, 2004
The Law of Administration for the State of Iraq during the Transitional Period, or the provisional Iraqi constitution, was signed on March 8th, 2004, by the Iraqi Governing Council. After the official turnover of power from Coalition Provisional Authority, to a sovereign Iraqi government, it came into effect on June 28th, 2004. It signified a partial success for the United States in Iraq, for it began the process that eventually led to the permanent constitution approved by referendum on October 15th, 2005. It was drafted by Iraqi civilians with advice and aid from US and UN personnel.
The provisional constitution contained rights for equality before the law without regard to “gender, sect, opinion, belief, nationality, religion, or origin”, freedom of religion, speech, and press, the right to privacy, the right to a “fair, speedy, and open trial”, the right to property, and it banned unlawful arrest or detention, torture, and cruel and unusual punishment. It provided for the election of a National Assembly that would draft the permanent constitution, an executive branch, and a judiciary court system. A Prime Minister approved by the Assembly would run much of the day-to-day business of the government.
The creation of this document was extremely important for the further development of a democratic Iraq. Governing Council President Mohammed Bahrululum said, “here we are today standing in a historical moment to lay the strong foundation for rebuilding a new Iraq," A new, free, democratic Iraq that protects the dignity of the human being and protects human rights."
The provisional constitution contained rights for equality before the law without regard to “gender, sect, opinion, belief, nationality, religion, or origin”, freedom of religion, speech, and press, the right to privacy, the right to a “fair, speedy, and open trial”, the right to property, and it banned unlawful arrest or detention, torture, and cruel and unusual punishment. It provided for the election of a National Assembly that would draft the permanent constitution, an executive branch, and a judiciary court system. A Prime Minister approved by the Assembly would run much of the day-to-day business of the government.
The creation of this document was extremely important for the further development of a democratic Iraq. Governing Council President Mohammed Bahrululum said, “here we are today standing in a historical moment to lay the strong foundation for rebuilding a new Iraq," A new, free, democratic Iraq that protects the dignity of the human being and protects human rights."
