Federal Supreme Court of Iraq denies declaring first parliament session unconstitutional

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq denied on Monday allegations that it issued a statement declaring that the first session of the parliament was unconstitutional.

"The Media Center of the Federal Supreme Court clarified that it is not true what some are circulating about giving a prior opinion from the Federal Court, whether from its president or one of its members regarding the procedures of the first session of the House of Representatives held on January 9, 2022," the Iraqi Supreme Federal Court statement declared.

"All parties should be careful not to attribute any opinion or statement to the Federal Supreme Court because this will expose whoever issues it to legal accountability," the statement warned. 

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The Court published this clarification on its official website in reaction to allegations circulated on social media by supporters and members of the Shiite Coordination Framework political alliance. 

The Iraqi parliament held its first session on Sunday. Mahmood al-Mashhadani, the parliament's eldest member, chaired that session, as stipulated in the Iraqi constitution. The representative became ill as tensions rose in the early hours of the session.

Members of the Shiite Coordination Framework in parliament caused these tensions by refusing to accept the voting process and calling it unconstitutional.

Sunni politician Mohamed al-Halbousi was re-elected as the speaker of Iraq's parliament on Sunday after securing 200 votes from the 228 lawmakers present. 

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