Iraq
Shakhawan Abdullah, second deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, speaking to reporters in Washington on February 17, 2025. Photo: Rudaw
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The land restitution law recently ratified by the Iraqi presidency that seeks to return properties confiscated under the Baath regime to its original owners is set to be implemented imminently as all obstacles have been addressed, Iraq’s second deputy parliament speaker said on Monday.
“I spoke with the justice minister three days ago, and the Official Gazette will publish it. When it is implemented, the first step will be to cancel the contracts for Arab settlers, and the government will take measures to return the lands,” Shakhawan Abdullah told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda in Washington.
The Iraqi parliament in January passed amendments to three controversial laws demanded by the Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds. The laws in question were general amnesty, personal status, and a bill proposed by the federal government aimed at returning land confiscated under the Baath regime to its original owners.
The land restitution law, a key Kurdish demand, aims to return properties to their original Kurdish and Turkmen owners. These lands were taken from them and given to Arab settlers by the Baath Revolutionary Command Council decades ago.
“The law will be published within the next two days and there are no longer any obstacles to its implementation,” Abdullah said.
Last week, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court dismissed an appeal challenging the validity of the voting procedures and paved the way for President Abdul Latif Rashid to ratify the laws.
“I spoke with the justice minister three days ago, and the Official Gazette will publish it. When it is implemented, the first step will be to cancel the contracts for Arab settlers, and the government will take measures to return the lands,” Shakhawan Abdullah told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda in Washington.
The Iraqi parliament in January passed amendments to three controversial laws demanded by the Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds. The laws in question were general amnesty, personal status, and a bill proposed by the federal government aimed at returning land confiscated under the Baath regime to its original owners.
The land restitution law, a key Kurdish demand, aims to return properties to their original Kurdish and Turkmen owners. These lands were taken from them and given to Arab settlers by the Baath Revolutionary Command Council decades ago.
“The law will be published within the next two days and there are no longer any obstacles to its implementation,” Abdullah said.
Last week, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court dismissed an appeal challenging the validity of the voting procedures and paved the way for President Abdul Latif Rashid to ratify the laws.
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