'Our voice will be heard'

Sunni Taqaddum Alliance lashes out at supreme court over amnesty law suspension

BAGHDAD — The Taqaddum Alliance, led by former Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi, launched a sharp attack on the Federal Supreme Court on Tuesday, criticizing its provisional suspension of the General Amnesty Law and accusing it of political bias. Al-Halbousi vowed to challenge the decision through both legal channels and public demonstrations, urging widespread protests.

Earlier in the day, the Federal Supreme Court issued a provisional order suspending three pieces of legislation: the General Amnesty Law, the amendment to the Personal Status Law, and the Property Restitution Law. The court’s decision stemmed from legal challenges questioning their constitutionality and the procedures used to pass them in Parliament. By issuing a provisional suspension, the court aims to prevent potentially irreversible consequences while it reviews the claims.

Although the three laws—each supported by Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish blocs—were halted, only Sunni figures, particularly from the Taqaddum Party, have expressed opposition to the ruling so far.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Al-Halbousi stated, “We have said it before and will say it again: the General Amnesty Law was passed exclusively to ensure justice for innocent and oppressed individuals. We do not support releasing terrorists who caused us immense suffering. However, we cannot accept the Federal Supreme Court’s politicization and its unjust provisional orders against the innocent.”

He continued, “We will face and resist the decision to suspend the General Amnesty Law through all legal and popular channels. We call for massive protests to reject this injustice and to oppose the authority of Jassim Aboud al-Amiri’s court over other institutions. Additionally, we will completely boycott institutions and events that do not respect the will of the people and the agreements between Iraq’s communities.”

Members of the Taqaddum Alliance echoed Al-Halbousi’s message across social media. MP Azhar al-Sidran said, “Our voice will be heard in the streets,” referencing the protests Al-Halbousi called for.

MP Abdulkarim Abtan described the ruling as a serious setback. “The court’s decision to suspend the General Amnesty Law is a setback for justice and human rights. It is unacceptable for Jassim al-Amiri to override the will of the people,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “This law was passed following political consensus and legal procedures, and it aimed to restore balance in the judiciary and provide relief to the innocent. Now, we face a new challenge that requires a united national stance to support the oppressed.”

Independent MP Raed al-Maliki offered reassurance to those awaiting enforcement of the law, stating, “We don’t believe the law will be entirely repealed. Instead, only the unconstitutional clauses highlighted in our appeal are likely to be removed.” His comment suggests that some are open to revisiting the legislation and modifying specific provisions.

Meanwhile, Khaled Battal al-Najm, Minister of Industry and Minerals and a leading member of Taqaddum, expressed dismay at the suspension. “When we entered politics, it was to answer the calls of our people for justice. They were optimistic when the General Amnesty Law was passed to bring relief to the innocent,” he wrote. “As for terrorists, we fought them and will continue to do so by all means and at all times. This decision by the Federal Supreme Court, despite the difficult negotiations and political consensus, is unacceptable and raises many questions.”