Saturday, April 11th 2020
Proposed Qumari constitution released
Jabal Nafusah — The Parliament of Qumar has released its proposal for a constitution of Qumar that will be put to Qumari voters in the next few months for ratification. Prime Minister Zuben Ahmed said that the document was the product of "deliberation and compromise" among the various parties and factions within the parliament, but one that he felt would "create the foundation for a new era" in his country.
The new constitution would establish Qumar as a republic, with power vested in a prime minister "elected from, and by" the country's parliament. A ceremonial president would be elected by a three-fifths majority of the parliament for a maximum of two five-year terms, with the mandate to "[safeguard] the Constitution, the preservation of Qumar's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity" and appoint and dismiss ministers, and sign legislation and treaties based on the prime minister's advice. The last sultan, Manab bin Hessani, has been announced as the candidate parliament will choose to first fill the role, should the constitution be approved.
Due in part to Qumar's tumultuous history and instability, several measures are included to prevent democratic backsliding: military officers are forbidden from serving in governmental roles, ministers must be chosen from among members of parliament, an independent judiciary with powers to block unconstitutional legislation, and it would be impossible to amend the section outlining the "free and democratic" form of government.
The new constitution would also increase provincial autonomy in several areas, grant citizens the right to an education, and keep the country's official religion as Sunni Islam. It also formally enshrines protection for "people of the book" (an Islamic term encompassing Jews, Christians and other Abrahamic traditions) and recognizes Farsi and Balochi as minority languages that provinces may offer public services in. Women would seen an increase in social and civil rights as well: they would be granted the right to vote and hold public office at the same age as men (21 years of age, instead of the current 30), allowed to initiate divorce proceedings, be allocated one-third of seats in any jury, and see practices such as honor-killing and mandating the wearing of veils banned.
Other measures have been added to address concerns from its neighbors and the world: Qumar would forswear "obtaining, possessing or manufacturing" weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, create a sovereign wealth fund for the country's oil revenue that would be "accountable to the people of Qumar and their elected representatives", and, importantly, requires it to be held alongside a referendum on whether to join its neighbor-state of Iran (which would invalidate the constitutional referendum if passed).
Secretary of State August Adair praised the document as "a great step forward for democracy and human rights in the Middle East", and urged Qumari citizens to ratify the document. Former Secretary of Education Lawrence Lessig, who served as an advisor during the constitution's drafting process, similarly expressed enthusiasm: "Great Scot, what a forward leap!" Lessig said when asked about the constitution's articles. "Twenty years ago, who would have thought that it would be the people of Qumar themselves that would have said 'we need democracy, and equal rights for men and women'?"
A referendum is expected to be held in mid-June to ratify the constitution. It will be held simultaneously with a referendum on whether the country should join with Iran, a requirement of the Vienna deal negotiated between Iran, Qumar and other nations such as the United States, Russia, China and the European Union.
