Iraqi NGO measure faces opposition

BAGHDAD, July 6 (UPI) -- Iraqi lawmakers are expected to vet a contested law later in July that governs the work of non-governmental organizations in the country, officials say.

The draft version is facing stiff opposition from several lawmakers and NGOs alike who worry the measure puts too many restrictions on the work of donor groups inside the country, the U.N. humanitarian news agency IRIN reports.

"The draft is receiving a lot of objections; even our committee's seven members are not agreed on it," said Maisson al-Damalogi, the deputy chief of the NGO committee in the Iraqi Parliament. "We have received a lot of comments from NGOs and we will include them when discussions start."

Damalogi described the current version as "very bad," saying it hamstrung the activity of the NGO community because of strict government oversight.

Tariq Harb, who heads the Iraqi Society for Law Culture NGO, described the measure, however, as "moderate," saying it leveled the playing field for all working to better the national situation.

"Some of the NGOs receive, for instance, $200,000 and spend only $2,000 and some of them have committed crimes," Harb said. "The law will benefit both NGOs and donors."