Committees' recent meetings - 9 September 2021
A summary of Kurdistan Parliament's committees' recent work and meetings:
Legislative Committee
31 August – The committee, led by the chair Dr. Bizhar Kochar (KDP), held a meeting with the KRG Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Begard Talabani, and ministry officials, to discuss the Bill on Production and Import of Seeds and Plants and Registration, Approval, and Protection of Agricultural Chemicals in Kurdistan Region – Iraq. They exchanged views in detail on all the articles of the bill, and then the committee decided to send the bill to Parliament’s Presidency to schedule it for its second reading at a sitting.
Relations and Kurdish Diaspora Committee
6 September – The committee, led by the chair Dr. Rebwar Babkayi (KDP), met with Turkey’s Consul General Hakan Karacay to ask for the repatriation of Kurdistan Region citizens who have been deported from Turkey to Syria.
Dr. Babkayi explained the problems facing the 56 migrants who are stuck in Syria in a camp and with worsening financial means, and asked the Consulate to help them return. They asked the Consul General to convey the request to the Government of Turkey so that the Kurdistan Region citizens can return.
Mr. Karacay pledged to make every effort to help the Kurdistan Region citizens to return.
Dr. Babkayi said that the committee will continue to press for the safe return of the stranded migrants.
The committee held a press conference after their meeting.
Finance and Economic Affairs Committee
6 September – The committee, led by the chair Ziyad Jabbar (PUK), met with Dr. Abdul Hakim Khasro, the KRG’s Head of the Department of Coordination and Follow-up and Secretary of the High Committee on Reforms, to assess the steps taken so far to implement the Reform Law, Law No. 2 of 2020.
The parliament committee emphasized the need to implement the law.
They held a separate meeting to discuss preparing their report on the Bill on Amendments to the Ministry of Finance and Economy (Law No. 5 of 2010).
All the letters sent to the committee were read and answered.
Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research Committee
6 September – The committee, led by the chair Abdusalam Dolamari (KDP), discussed study provisions and facilities for the blind and persons with disabilities, and decided to investigate the shortcomings and look for solutions.
The MPs discussed the dormitory fees taken from students last year. The committee decided that they will ask that dorm fees not be taken this year, or that students receive a refund after completing their studies.
All the letters and requests sent to the committee were read and discussed, and either received a reply or were sent to Parliament’s Presidency to raise them with the relevant parties.
Culture, Civil Society, Sports and Youth Committee
8 September – The committee, led by chair Salma Fatih (PUK), who participated in the meeting online with the other members who were in Parliament, discussed the bills on Central National Archives and on the Kurdistan Olympic Committee, and decided to study and refine them and then send them to Parliament’s Presidency.
Peshmerga Committee
8 September – The committee, led by chair Reving Heruri (KDP), reviewed the work of their subcommittees that were created to look into different problems facing the Peshmerga forces.
All the letters and requests sent to the committee were read and discussed, and either received a reply or were sent to Parliament’s Presidency to raise them with the relevant parties.
The committee scheduled an agenda for a meeting soon with the Peshmerga Affairs Minister, chief of staff and secretary was scheduled for a committee meeting with the ministry's high delegation, in which the minister, chief of staff and the ministry's secretary to discuss several important Peshmerga issues.
Endowments and Religious Affairs Committee
6 September – The committee, led by the deputy chair Mala Ihsan Rekani (KDP), discussed the measures taken by the KRG Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs regarding organization and regulation of waqf* properties).
The committee decided to ask the Ministry for detailed information about the stage they have reached regarding waqf properties that have trespassed onto other land, have been confiscated or are not under the legal authority of the Ministry.
The MPs also decided to visit religious institutions in Halabja governorate soon.
All the letters and requests sent to the committee were read and discussed, and either received a reply or were sent to Parliament’s Presidency to raise them with the relevant parties.
*Waqf, under Islamic Law and practice, is an inalienable charitable endowment, usually of property, in perpetuity.
6 September – The committee, led by the deputy chair Mala Ihsan Rekani (KDP), visited Altun Mosque (Gold Mosque) in Erbil and met with the project’s owner, Haji Idris Muhammad Aziz. They discussed the role and position of the mosque in serving Islam and spreading science, culture, patriotism and national pride in Kurdistan.
The committee commended the owner of the project for building the mosque in a modern geometric style with several sections and areas for men and women.