Iraqis to debate minority representation

BAGHDAD, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Shiite Iraqi lawmakers said Monday the matter of minority representation in the provincial elections law will be put on the next parliamentary agenda.

Abbas al-Bayati with the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance told the Iraqi daily Voices of Iraq Monday that lawmakers will consider Article 50 of the provincial elections law.

Parliament Sept. 24 unanimously passed the long-awaited provincial elections law, which included a 25 percent quota for female representation. The provision did not include, however, an earlier provision for ethnic and religious minorities.

The Christian minority has faced mounting persecution from Islamic militants, notably in the north. The Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East sent a letter earlier this month to the Iraqi government calling for religious minority representation.

A three-member presidential council last week passed the measure without the provision, despite calls from top U.N. officials and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Originally scheduled for Oct. 1, Iraqi provincial elections will be held at the end of January.