The Iraqi Election & Religious Freedom

Today The Baptist Press News has a very interesting article on the recent election in Iraq, and it touches on the issue of religious freedom.  This is an interview with a former Whitehouse staffer  named Daniel Heimbach who now write books on morality and sexuality, as well as teaches at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

The interview in part follows and focuses on Professor Heimbach's insights on religious freedom in Iraq and what the election may mean.  Read the full article .

BAPTIST PRESS: How will these elections impact religious freedom in Iraq in light of the draft Iraqi constitution accepted in October?

HEIMBACH: "... Essentially, to assure passage of the constitutional referendum, negotiators allowed some contradictions that will need working out in the future. And the issue of religious liberty is actually the most important matter left to be worked out. That is because Islamic law is given a powerful role in the Iraqi constitution. It is not an 'all powerful' role. But it is nevertheless a very powerful role.

"What has happened is that drafters of the Iraqi constitution have tried to combine two diametrically opposing views of government: one being the rule of Islam and the other is the rule of civil law that guarantees equal rights to all citizens regardless of religion. So in one place the new Iraqi constitution says the government will make 'no law that contradicts the established provisions of Islam,' and in another place it says the government will pass no law that contradicts 'the principles of democracy.' This has to be a matter of grave concern to Christians. But we should also be grateful that religious liberty is being debated so seriously. For all its faults, the draft Iraqi constitution makes religious liberty a very real possibility in the midst of the Islamic world. And although it is not ideal, what has been achieved is amazing compared to what the Iraqis were under just a few years ago. In view of this, the elections to be held Dec. 15 will set the stage for how the Iraqi people will start working on the tension that now exists in their constitution over religious liberty. This one issue will determine just how free and democratic the Iraqi people wish to be."

He makes some very valid points and also gives us insight on how we can pray for that nation and her leaders. 

The interview continues...