Iraqi Parliament pulls property restitution bill in last-minute agenda changes

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Parliament has once again delayed a crucial vote on the property restitution bill aimed at returning confiscated lands to Kurdish and Turkmen owners in disputed areas. The bill, which was set for a vote during Tuesday’s session, was removed from the agenda at the last minute, sparking frustration among Kurdish MPs who have been pushing for its passage.

The “Draft Law for Returning Properties to Their Owners Affected by Certain Decisions of the Dissolved Revolutionary Command Council” has faced repeated delays due to opposition from Sunni and some Shia parties. The legislation seeks to undo decisions made by Saddam Hussein’s regime between 1975 and 1979 that confiscated approximately 32,000 acres of agricultural land in areas like Kirkuk and handed them over to Arab settlers.

Karwan Yaruwais, an Iraqi MP, told 964media on Monday, “The new agenda from the parliamentary leadership has removed the vote on the property restitution bill, which is specifically related to reversing decisions made by the Revolutionary Command Council during Saddam’s regime.”

He added, “Last week, the Shia bloc leaders promised Kurdish factions that the vote would be delayed by just two days, but now it’s been removed again, pending approval from the Sunni factions.”

Previously, Kurdish MP Dara Sekanian expressed hope that the vote would go forward. “We’ve held discussions with the opposing parties, and we’re hopeful this time the Parliament can vote on it,” Sekanian told 964media. “If the bill passes, as we amended it, it will benefit all people in the disputed areas whose property was confiscated.”

The bill has drawn strong opposition from Sunni Arab lawmakers, who argue that it would negatively affect Arab settlers who were relocated to the disputed areas during the Arabization campaign. Omed Hama, a Kurdish MP from Kirkuk, previously told 964media, “In the 1970s, Saddam’s regime forced Kurds to surrender their agricultural lands. Those who refused had their lands confiscated and handed over to ministries like defense and finance for government projects, some of which were later leased to Arab settlers under long-term contracts.”

Hama added that the property restitution bill seeks to return unused lands to their original Kurdish and Turkmen owners and provide compensation for those whose lands were developed for state use. He noted that this issue is also tied to Iraq’s 2005 constitutional Article 140, which calls for the “normalization” of disputed areas like Kirkuk and a referendum to determine whether they will join the Kurdistan Regional Government or remain under federal control.

The bill, which has undergone its first and second readings, was previously scheduled for a vote on Sept. 3, 2024, but that session did not result in any action. Today’s removal from the agenda has further delayed any progress on resolving the land disputes.

In addition to the property restitution bill, Tuesday’s agenda originally included discussions on the Law on Environmental Protection and Improvement, the Law on Disability Rights, and the Civil Aviation Law. However, the agenda was reduced from six items to four, delaying discussions on these topics as well.

This article has been updated to reflect the removal of the bill from tomorrow’s agenda