Christians say share does not represent their real size

Iraq-Cheldean BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The secretary general of the National Chaldeo-Assyrian Council expressed disappointment with the decision of the Iraqi Parliament to give Christians only one seat in Baghdad, Ninewa, and Basra, noting this share does not represent the whole Christian community in Iraq. “The Parliament should realize the importance of giving Christians their rights because they are an effective component in the country,” Dyaa Boutros told IraqiNews.com. A lawmaker had said earlier that the Iraqi Parliament on Monday voted with majority of 106 out of 150 in favor of a draft to amend the provincial council election law to give one seat to each key group in the provinces of Basra, Ninewa and Baghdad. “Today’s approved amendment held that the Christians and the Mandaean Sabians will get one seat each in the Baghdad provincial council, one seat for Christians in the Basra council and one seat for each of the Christians, Yazidis and Shabaks in the Ninewa council,” Mohammed al-Khazaali told IraqiNews.com. The Iraqi parliament had held its 21st session on Monday to vote over the law amendment draft after it completed on Thursday the second reading of the proposed amendments. The Iraqi parliament had on September 24 passed the law on provincial council elections but cancellation of article 50, which provided for set quotas for minorities in local councils, has caused a commotion and drew criticism of the law by minorities’ socio-political organizations. SH (S)/SR 1