Monitor

Sovereignty Alliance expresses ‘profound astonishment’ at Supreme Court ruling halting General Amnesty Law

BAGHDAD — Khamis al-Khanjar’s the Sovereignty Alliance, Iraq’s second-largest Sunni party, expressed its disagreement with the suspension of the General Amnesty Law, aligning with Halbousi’s Taqaddum Party. It criticized lawmakers who filed a challenge against the law in the Federal Supreme Court, holding them accountable for the negative impact on political stability.

The Federal Supreme Court issued the ruling Monday, freezing the implementation of three laws, 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 court’s decision halted three laws backed by Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish blocs, opposition has so far come solely from Sunni figures, particularly members of the Taqaddum Party.

The Sovereignty Alliance criticized lawmakers who filed a challenge against the General Amnesty Law in the Federal Supreme Court, holding them responsible for the negative impact on political stability. The alliance accused these lawmakers of “for their attempts to exploit and mobilize public sentiment for personal gain.”

In a statement, the alliance called on the court to “promptly review its validity to ensure justice and provide relief to the innocent awaiting the restoration of their rights and the removal of the injustices they have suffered.”

The head of the Sovereignty Alliance Bloc in Parliament, Salem al-Issawi, rejected the approach of “provocation and escalation” following the Federal Supreme Court’s suspension of the General Amnesty Law. He criticized the reactions of certain parties, indirectly referring to Taqaddum’s sharp response, which included threats of mass protests against the decision. Al-Issawi stressed the importance of dialogue, especially as the region navigates a “climate of significant change.”

Speaking in an interview with UTV, al-Issawi stated, “The Federal Supreme Court’s decision does not mean the cancellation of the General Amnesty Law, even if it is overturned procedurally or substantively. We will work to ensure its passage, as the judiciary showed flexibility and good faith when this law was legislated.”

He added, “We must reach consensus within the [Sunni] community and engage with our partners in the political process to resolve the issue, rather than resorting to the language of chaos. This language has led our people to ruin over the past years.”

Full text of the Sovereignty Alliance’s statement:

While we reaffirm our full respect for the decisions of the Federal Supreme Court and other constitutional state institutions, we express profound astonishment at the decision to halt the enforcement of the second amendment to the General Amnesty Law, which aligns with the provisions of the political agreement paper endorsed by various national forces.

The General Amnesty Law is a critical step toward achieving justice for the oppressed and innocent individuals who have endured injustice and deprivation over the years. Approving this law would restore rights to their rightful owners and foster trust between citizens and state institutions, thereby strengthening internal unity and reinforcing national cohesion in the face of the challenges confronting our nation.

In this regard, we urge the Federal Supreme Court to expedite the approval of the law and promptly review its validity to ensure justice and provide relief to the innocent awaiting the restoration of their rights and the removal of the injustices they have suffered.

As the Sovereignty Alliance, we hold certain members of Parliament who challenged the law accountable for this complaint and for their attempts to exploit and mobilize public sentiment for personal gain. Such actions risk undermining political and social stability. Nevertheless, we remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing our ultimate goal: securing the release of all innocent individuals who have not been proven guilty.