In early March 2004 the Interim Governing Council selected by the US-led coalition that deposed Sadam Hussein agreed on a temporary constitution to guide the country until power is transferred and new elections take place. The constitution contains a bill of rights including protection for religious freedom. The Council determined that Islamic law will be a source of law, but not necessarily the sole or primary source, and it is intended that there will be no laws against Islam.
Uncertainty remains as to how minorities such as Assyrian Christians and Jews will be affected by the new regime, and what the role of women will be in the new government and society. The Shiite majority has enjoyed a greater degree of religious freedom since the war and will likely play a dominant role in the new government. There has been tension between Shiites and Wahabi Sunni fundamentalists.
2003 US State Department International Religious Freedom Report on Iraq
International Christian Concern Report on Iraq
Iraqi Interim Constitution Ambiguous on Religious Freedom CNS News 4/07/04
Iraq Cleric Thrives on Religion, Politics WorldWide Religious News 4/04/04
Fundamentalists rush in Christian Science Monitor3/30/04
The Rights Way: The Republic of Fear becomes the Republic of Hope National Review 3/19/04
Poisoning hit Iraq minority community WorldWide Religious News 3/10/04
Iraq: USCIRF commends extensive protection of human rights in interim constitution The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 3/08/04
Iraq’s thorny governance The Economist 3/02/04
Iraqi leaders strike compromise on basic law after marathon talks WorldWide Religious News 3/01/04
Shiites Mark Rituals Once Banned in Iraq WorldWide Religious News 2/29/04
Iraq's Baptist Mandaeans are survivors, but ranks are thinning WorldWide Religious News 2/23/04
A Religious Awakening WorldWide Religious News 2/19/04
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