Iraq’s U.S.-appointed Governing Council has agreed on the principle of a federalist constitution, reports Al Jazeera. “Islam will be the official religion of the state and it will be a source … of legislation,” says one official Council spokesman — even as divorce and inheritance will not be subject to religious tradition.
Islam Online adds some nuance: “The draft charter recognizes Islam as a source of the legislation rather than the only source, and stipulates that no laws will be passed against this religion.”
And then muddles it: “The language was put in such a way not to offend the Islamic identity of most of the people but nor to offend the other side and give the impression that’s an Islamic state,” a spokesman for Pentagon fave Ahmed Chalabi is quoted as saying.
Now the question is: What will Paul Bremer do?