MPs debate bill on ownership of illegally used land in municipalities, have first readings of six other bills

At a Parliament sitting on 23 October chaired by Speaker Dr. Rewas Faiq, MPs debated at length the articles of a bill (draft law) on ownership of lands that have been illegally used or taken in the municipalities of the Kurdistan Region. The purpose of the bill is to allow people who have illegally used and/or built on land in municipalities to buy it from the government and officially register it in their names, within a deadline. Six other bills had their first readings.

MPs made comments and suggestions on the bill, which was at the second reading stage. The Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Municipalities Sasan Awni attended the sitting and answered MPs’ questions about the ministry’s work mechanisms and its role in solving legal issues, such as ownership of land.

Speaker Faiq asked Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee and municipalities committee to hold a joint meeting on 27 October to study MPs’ latest comments and suggestions on the bill and then prepare the  final report on the bill so that Parliament can schedule as soon as possible the third reading, at which the bill will be put to vote.

At the same sitting, the following bills had their first readings. Speaker Faiq directed the bills to the relevant committees and to Legal Affairs Committee for necessary action:

1. Bill on a quality control and assurance organization in the Kurdistan Region – Iraq.
2. Bill on development of families in Kurdistan Region – Iraq.
3. Bill on public prosecutors in Kurdistan Region – Iraq.
4. Bill on public prosecutors in Kurdistan Region – Iraq.
5. Bill on rights and privileges of people with disabilities in Kurdistan Region – Iraq.
6. Proposal for resolution on protection of teachers and educational leaders in Kurdistan Region – Iraq.

The sitting was also attended by Secretary Muna Kahveci and by the KRG Minister of the Region for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Vala Fareed.