Iraqi cabinet office threatens provincial councils over strike

Sunni clerics Iraq has a 'sectarian government' Baghdad – Jaafar Al Nasrawi The Iraqi cabinet office has threatened provincial councils with prosecution should they obey calls for civil disobedience. The Arab League has meanwhile called on all concerned parties to "launch a serious dialogue," to resolve the crisis.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Iraqi cabinet office said that freedoms of expression, assembly and peaceful demonstration "granted by the constitution and legislation" should be "practiced within the bounds of legitimacy and in a manner that does not infringe upon public order and morality."
The cabinet office referred to the calls for civil disobedience issued by "some gubernatorial councils" as being "in breach of the constitution and enacted laws."
The statement went on to threaten local authorities with "legal liability" should they not "abstain from applying these decisions and illegitimate orders." The cabinet office tasked ministers and heads of non-ministerial authorities to ensure that "the work of public services and authorities is hampered."
Sunni politicians and clerics in Iraq have called on state authorities and gubernatorial councils in northern and western provinces to join in a strike to protest against their "marginalisation" by the Iraqi government, led by Nouri al-Maliki. They described the regime as a "sectarian government."
A statement released by the Arab League general secretariat lamented a "saddening conflict" that has disrupted "hope for Iraqi recovery." The regional diplomatic organisation called on all concerned to "place the good of the country above all other considerations" and avoid "loathsome" and "detestable" sectarianism.
The statement proposed "treating the causes of tension and launching a serious dialogue with an aim to laying the foundations for comprehensive national unity and reinforcing the unity of Iraqi territories and people.”
The provinces of Anbar, Nineveh and Saladdin have seen mass demonstrations since December 25 attended by clerics, tribal chiefs and officials including the Governor of Nineveh, Atheel la-Nujaifi and Finance Minister Raffi al-Issawi.
The protests demanded the release of female and political prisoners, a change in the government’s direction and the prosecution of those accused of sexually assaulting female prisoners.
The Nineveh gubernatorial council announced on December 29 that it would suspend its sessions for 72 hours in solidarity with the demonstrators, threatening resignation if its demands are not met. Hours later, council chief Jabr Abd Rabbo announced that the local body had begun a general strike in state authorities with the exception of health and town halls.
In response to the protests, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the release of all female prisoners who were arrested without a warrant, as well as women arrested due to crimes committed by family members. He also declared his willingness to issue a special pardon covering women imprisoned for criminal activity.