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Iraqi MP reinstated after visit to Israel
An Iraqi court has overturned a decision by parliament to strip Sunni MP Mithal Alusi of his immunity for visiting Israel earlier this year, Alusi's aide said on Saturday. Alusi, the Democratic Party of the Iraqi Nation's sole lawmaker, "will be back in parliament" when it convenes in December to discuss the budget, Adel al-Juburi told AFP."The constitutional court rejected a request by parliament to postpone by six months a hearing and quickly issued its verdict" to allow Alusi to resume his parliamentary duties, Juburi added. On September 14, parliament lifted Alusi's immunity for visiting Israel earlier that month to attend an international conference on terrorism, and also voted to ban him from attending parliamentary sessions or traveling abroad. Parliament also asked prosecutors to press charges against Alusi for visiting the Jewish state, with which Iraq has no diplomatic ties. Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab countries to have peace treaties with Israel. At the time, Shiite MP Ali al-Adeeb, who has close ties with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, said Iraqi law bans trips to Israel. But Alusi's lawyer, Tareq Harb, told AFP the constitutional court overruled parliament's decision and that its verdict was without appeal. Alusi also visited Israel in September 2004 when he was a member of the Iraqi National Congress, the party led by former Pentagon favorite Ahmed Chalabi. He was expelled from that party for making the visit and set up his own party. Alusi has survived several assassination attempts in recent years. Two sons and a bodyguard were killed in one attempt on his life in February 2005. Posted by: Fred 2008-11-30 |
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