Catholic bishops in Iraq are growing increasingly fearful that the draft Iraqi constitution “opens the door widely” to discrimination against Christians and other non-Muslims, the patriarch of Baghdad for the Chaldeans has told Iraqi officials.
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The Prime Minister of Iraq, Patriarch Emmanuel III Dely, pushed for a last-minute change to the constitution in a meeting with the president after bishops argued that the constitution contradicts itself on the issue of religious rights for minorities.

According to Internation Christian Concern, President Jalal Talabani and Dely discussed a recent statement by the country’s 12 bishops, including prelates from the Chaldean, Armenian, Latin and Assyrian Churhces, in which they voiced fears for the future of the Christian community in Iraq.

In the statement, the bishops praised Articles 2.1(b) and 2.2 which provided for freedom and religious rights but denounced Article 2.1(a) which states: “No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.”

The bishops concluded in the statement: “The bishops’ conference expressed a grave concern and fear...about Article 2.1(a). This opens the door widely to passing laws that are unjust towards non-Muslims. The conference insists that this clause be amended or deleted.”

On the release of the statement to the international charity Aid to the Church in Need, Auxiliary Bishop Andreas Abouna of Baghdad stressed that the problem was not the propagation of Islam as the majority-religion: “We are definitely not against the fact that in Iraq Islam is the religion of the state.

“We know that the majority in Iraq is Muslim but the problem is that the constitution is not clear. There are parts of the constitution that are good but what about the other parts? For example, would Christian women have to wear the veil?”

The bishops remain fearful that the “vague” constitution will fail to protect Christians if the Iraqi government becomes less tolerant.

A referendum will be held on the constitution on 15 October.