Humam Hamoudi

Humam Hamoudi (Sheikh Humam Baqir Abdul Hameed Hamoudi) Ar. الشيخ همام باقر عبد الحميد حمودي is one of the most important figures in Iraqi politics. He is a member of the Council of Representatives of Iraq representing the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA). Hamoudi is second in command of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council and belongs to the Badr Organisation, the Supreme Council's military wing.

Role in the Iraqi Constitution

Hamoudi was Chairman of the Committee that draughted the Iraqi Constitution in 2005. Although the constitution was ratified, there were complaints by many of the draughters as well as observers that the process was rushed and incomplete. Hamoudi may not entirely blamed for this as there was vocal public pressure from Americans including Donald Rumsfeld for the deadline to be kept. However, Hamoudi was apparently unwilling to countenance a delay^[1].

More damning, Hamoudi has made many statements that suggest that he is unwilling to make necessary compromises. He is currently (August 2007) the Chairman of the Constitution Amendment Committee, the parliamentary committee charged with making changes to the constitution in order to make it more inclusive. In particular, most Sunnis as well as Sadrists are against the specific arrangements regarding regionalism; Salih Mutlaq, the chief Sunni negotiator, urged supporters to vote against the original document). However, a recent article by Hamoudi in the Stanford Law Review is typical of his line: the constitution is excellent as it is and anyone who wants to change it is in the wrong. He goes as far as to say that "the majority are not obligated to consider all of the views of the minority" (italics added)^[2].

In addition to his role in the constitution, Hamoudi was on the three man committee appointed by the UIA to decide on an alternative to Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari in February 2006. He is also on the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee.

Hamoudi does not speak English.

Notes

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