Iraq parliament rejects proposed change to Nationality Law

The Iraqi Parliament Security and Defence Committee yesterday rejected the draft amendments to the Nationality Law.

Committee Chairman Adnan Al-Asadi said in a statement that “the proposed amendments allow foreigners married to Iraqi women as well as unmarried foreigners who live in Iraq for only one year to apply for the Iraqi citizenship … These simple terms such as the length of stay and marriage to foreigners are rejected by most countries.”

Al-Asadi added that the amendments also give the interior minister the powers to grant citizenship, which in most countries are held by the head of state, prime minister or the house of representatives.

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The Parliament Committee of Labor and Social Affairs, Migration and Displaced Persons called to reject the proposed amendments and to hold those who contributed to introducing them accountable.

“We reject these amendments, and the person who introduced them wanted to consolidate the interests of other countries and certain parties,” said Raad Al-Dahlaki, the committee’s interim chairman told the Anadolu Agency.

He stressed that “the Iraqi Nationality Law in force (No. 26 of 2006) is good and authentic, and grants citizenship to those who lived in Iraq for at least ten years in addition to other requirements that take into consideration international standards.”

“There is a majority in the parliament who agree not to pass the new amendments,” Al- Dahlaki said.