Does Iraq Have a Rule of Law? Report Says It's "Inadequate" to "Non-Existant"

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Does Iraq Have a Rule of Law?
IWPR's New Iraqi Governance Report Says It's "Inadequate" to "Non-Existant"
By SUSANNE FISCHER, CHRISTOPHE REUTER Posted 0 hr. 52 min. ago


A series of reports by IWPR journalists in six key regions show the rule of law ranges from being woefully inadequate to effectively non-existant. Some of the reporting has previously appeared on IraqSlogger in another form, but IWPR has created a compilation of previous dispatches to give an overview of regional political and security developments in their Iraqi Governance Report.

Despite the recent substantial reinforcement of British and American forces in Basra and central Iraq respectively, security in the country only temporarily improved, and the gruesome daily litany of suicide bombings, mortar attacks, targeted killings and ethnic cleansing continues.

In July, at least 1,759 Iraqis were reported killed, a more than seven per cent increase over the 1,640 who are said to have died in June, according to estimates by the Associated Press.

Among the dead were civilians, government officials and members of the Iraqi security forces. The figures are considered only a minimum, and the actual number is thought to be higher with many killings going unreported.

Coalition forces are barely able to prevent the emergence of autonomous zones openly controlled by militias. The ongoing sectarian violence has created an extremely threatening climate. People feel they may be kidnapped or killed at any moment.

The security disaster is having a devastating effect on civilians, reconstruction efforts and economic activity. One out of three Iraqis is in need of emergency aid, according to a recent report by Oxfam.

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