Kurdish Lawmakers Break Legal Quorum of Iraqi Parliament's Session

Iraqi Parliament's Media

Iraqi Parliament.

Kurdish Lawmakers Walk Out of Iraqi Parliament Session Over Political Prisoners Law and Freedom of Expression Bill

Kurdish lawmakers walked out of the Iraqi Parliament session held on Sunday, 3 August 2025, in protest against the postponement of proposed amendments to the Political Prisoners Law and concerns over the draft Freedom of Expression Bill. Their boycott broke the legal quorum required for the session, halting any further legislative proceedings.

Karwan Yarwais, lawmaker of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the Iraqi parliament, told PUKMEDIA: "We chose to leave the session after the speaker postponed the first agenda item, which was the amendment of the Political Prisoners Law. The proposed changes were of significant benefit to individuals who suffered under the former regime."

He added: "Following the Kurdish MPs' boycott, it became impossible to proceed with voting on any other legislative amendments."

Yarwais further clarified that the Kurdish lawmakers’ boycott was also prompted by serious reservations about the amendment to the Biron Freedom of Expression and the Regulation of Demonstrations in Iraq.

"As Kurds, we have numerous objections to the current form of the amendment, and we believe it must be revised," he said.

According to Article 1, paragraph (g) of the second amendment to the Law of the Iraqi Political Prisoners Institution, survivors of the chemical attack on Halabja and the Anfal campaign who were forced to flee Iraq due to threats and persecution were to be entitled to full rights and benefits. However, Kurdish MPs left the session following the removal of this crucial clause.

Furthermore, Lawmakers are concerned about the proposed amendments to the Freedom of Expression Bill, fearing that the changes could restrict people's ability to express themselves freely and criticise the government, particularly on digital platforms. Key concerns include the potential misuse of surveillance and personal data, the lack of transparency surrounding the amendment process, and the risk that the law could be weaponised to suppress dissent.

Amnesty International previously issued a strong appeal to Iraqi lawmakers. "Lawmakers must vote against or propose amendments to any laws that would add to the arsenal of tools that the authorities are already using to restrict civic space or betray Iraq’s constitutional and international commitments to protect freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly,” said Razaw Salihy, Amnesty International’s Iraq Researcher, in a statement.



PUKMEDIA