Forgery cases spark pushback
Justice minister forms committee to protect minority properties
BAGHDAD — On Monday, Justice Minister Khaled Shawani ratified the formation of a joint committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Justice and the endowments of Christian, Sabean-Mandaean, and Yazidi faiths. This committee is tasked with addressing complaints from Christian citizens concerning forgery and fraud related to their property ownership.
Shawani highlighted the critical need for cooperation between the Ministry and the religious endowments to establish effective mechanisms for safeguarding the properties of these communities.
He stressed the importance of meticulously documenting property records in accordance with legal standards. Additionally, Shawani has directed the Notary Public Department to verify the validity of documents and ensure the authenticity of power of attorney documents, incorporating checks through the General Directorate of Real Estate Registration and advising foreign embassies and consulates to be vigilant in their issuance of such documents.
This move comes in the wake of a recent court ruling where three individuals were sentenced to seven years in prison by the Karkh Criminal Court for a scheme that involved impersonating a Christian woman living abroad to sell her home in Baghdad.
Utilizing forged documents, the culprits deceitfully transferred the property deed and sold the house, a fraudulent act that led to significant legal repercussions based on several articles of the Penal Code No. 111 of 1969, including Article 290 which specifically addresses fraud through false official records.
