A statement issued by the Iraqi Lawyers Association called for demonstrations tomorrow to protest the Maliki government's abuse of power, corruption, and interference with the legal profession.
Recent attempts by attorneys across Iraq to register new businesses and obtain certificates authorizing their work have come up against ambiguous instructions that prevents the start of work for their clients. This failure on the part of the government means that the attorneys are out of work and their clients are without legal support. Registration of new businesses has been effectively halted by the inability to obtain authorizations in a lawful manner.
Participating lawyers are urged to stop their jobs until they receive constitutionally valid responses to their demands. They are asking for the imposition of the rule of law so that they can assume their responsibilities. They also seek punishment for corrupt officials.
A march is planned from the Lawyers Union headquarters in Al Mansor to the Office of Companies Registration in the hopes of persuading the government to act legally. Lawyers in all parts of Iraq were urged to hold similar demonstrations.
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