Minorities continue protest of Iraqi law

MOSUL, Iraq, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Minority religious groups in Iraq for the second week straight protested a move by lawmakers to exclude provisions for representation in provincial elections.

The Iraqi Parliament passed the provincial elections law in September, and earlier this week a three-member presidency council approved the matter without a measure for minority representation. The council, however, sent lawmakers a separate bill dealing with the issue.

The Kurdish Yazidi sect sent a statement to Iraqi lawmakers demanding reconsideration of the provision, Article 50, the Kurdish Globe said Thursday.

"On behalf of all Yazidis, we ask and insist on (the reinsertion of) Article 50 of the provincial council elections law and reviewing it to ensure the equitable representation of Yazidis within the population of Ninewa province," the statement said.

The Yazidi community called on the United Nations and the presidential council to back their demands for representation, stating their inclusions would make significant steps toward national reconciliation.

Deputy U.N. Envoy to Iraq Andrea Kilmer responded by telling reporters the world body was acting aggressively in consultation with the various political parties in Baghdad to remedy the situation.

"The U.N. will do its best in order to accomplish these rights, and the issue has been discussed with a number of political parties in Baghdad," she said.

There are about 500,000 members of the Yazidi community in northern Iraq.