The draft "science service" law raises controversy in Iraq

Iraqi parliamentarians are scheduled to discuss the draft law to restore compulsory military service in a first reading, which has been suspended for 20 years, in a move that raises controversy in Iraq and is considered by some to be futile.

The text of the law was first introduced in 2021 during the term of the previous government.

But since then, Iraq has had a new government headed by Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani, and a new parliamentary majority led by the coordination framework.

It is not yet clear whether the "service of science" bill will win the support of a majority of MPs.

Compulsory military service began in Iraq in 1935 during the royal era, and then stopped working in 2003, that is, after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Representative Sakfan Sindi, a member of the Parliamentary Defense Committee, said that "legislation of the compulsory service law is necessary because there are risks related to terrorism in the country."

The law, if approved, obliges every young Iraqi between the ages of 18 and 35 to enlist for a maximum period of 18 months, and a minimum of 3 months, according to the person's educational attainment, as explained by the deputy in the Security and Defense Committee, Yasser Iskandar and Tut.

On the other hand, some people are exempted from it, according to certain conditions, especially the only son or breadwinner of the family.

And soon the law was introduced, many criticisms came out against it, even from MPs.

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