Khor Abdullah causes an “unnatural” crisis within Iraq’s highest judicial authority.
Khor Abdullah causes an “unnatural” crisis within Iraq’s highest judicial authority.
2025-06-19 04:33
Shafaq News/ A source from within the Federal Supreme Court in Iraq reported on Thursday that a “crisis” of mass resignations had occurred within the court due to the “Kh0r Abdullah” case.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that the six members of the Federal Court had submitted their resignations, citing “government pressure” on the court regarding the Khor Abdullah case.
In this context, MP Mohammed Al-Khafaji, a member of the House of Representatives’ Legal Committee, said in an “urgent” statement, describing it as “very important,” that “several resignations have been submitted by members of the Federal Supreme Court.”
“We are waiting for the details and reasons,” he added, describing what happened as “unnatural.”
Meanwhile, MP Raed al-Maliki, a member of the House of Representatives’ Legal Committee, said on Thursday that nine members of the Federal Supreme Court in Iraq, including six full members and three reserve members, had submitted their resignations due to what he described as “pressures” being exerted on the court regarding the Khor Abdullah case.
Al-Maliki said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “The government and other parties want the Federal Court to be a pliable tool in their hands to implement whatever they see fit under the pretext of protecting the supreme interests,” stressing that “this situation cannot be tolerated.”
Al-Maliki added that “the Shiite leaderships in power have proven their failure to build an institutional state that respects the rule of law and the constitution,” noting that “consultations will be held with the remaining representatives to adopt a unified position on this issue, which sets a dangerous precedent.”
According to a report by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) in mid-April, the Iraqi president and prime minister filed separate appeals to the Federal Supreme Court, requesting that the court reverse its decision invalidating the law ratifying the Khor Abdullah Treaty with Kuwait. The court based their arguments on the Iraqi constitution and the 1966 Vienna Convention.
The two appellants argued that the agreement relates to the regulation of navigation, not the demarcation of borders, and constitutes part of Iraq’s international obligations that cannot be revoked.
On September 4, 2023, the Federal Supreme Court ruled that Law No. 42 of 2013, the law ratifying the agreement between the government of the Republic of Iraq and the government of the State of Kuwait regarding the regulation of maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah, was unconstitutional.
The court stated in a brief statement at the time that it “issued its decision as unconstitutional due to its violation of the provisions of Article 61/Fourth of the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq, which stipulates that ‘the process of ratifying international treaties and agreements shall be regulated by a law enacted by a two-thirds majority of the members of the House of Representatives’.”
shafaq.com
