From the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), Jan. 22:

To: Kurdistan Regional Government

International Campaign to remove Article No 7 from the Kurdistan regional constitution!

Article 7 of the proposed constitution for Kurdistan is an open threat to the rights and freedoms of the people.

To all women's group, secularist organisations, trade unions and political activists, we need your help to prevent Islamic Sharia law being implemented in Kurdistan.

In December, we declared a campaign to repeal Article 7 from the proposed constitution of Kurdistan. In our view, Article 7 clearly states that Islam is the main official religion, and that laws should be based on it.

As we said then, this will only lead to the violation of the most fundamental and basic liberties of the people of Kurdistan, and most of all undermine the rights and freedoms of women. We thank all of you who have already signed our petition: you have been a great support for our campaign. Here is the link to our petition again: http://www.petitiononline.com/15122006/petition.html

Please forward it to all your lists if you can.

Now we are asking organisations and activists to write letters in support of our campaign to repeal Article 7 and in favour of the separation of religion from the state and education, as well as equality and freedom for women.

Please send your letters of support to one of the following email addresses:

The initiators of this campaign:

- Houzan Mahmoud: representative abroad of Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq (and campaign coordinator)

- Marywan Halabjaee: Writer and researcher

- Sozan Shahab: Member of Kurdistan Parliament

- Nadir Abdul Hameed: political personality living in Denmark

- Goran Abdulla: coordinator of Dangakan.com website

- Sakar Ahmad: activist and author Victims of Honour Crimes

See our last posts on Iraq and the struggle in Kurdistan. See our last posting from Iraq's civil resistance.