Everybody in Iraq agrees that the slogans, statements and stands that were declared at the same time as the advertising campaigns of the local elections of the Iraqi provinces carried an escalating sectarian, regional and exclusionary tone. Moreover, no political party in Iraq has steered clear of this excessive use of incitement, intimidation and threatening strategy in the elections.

This reality might reveal the political parties’ tenuous belief in coexistence, yet it also indicates the absence of laws that govern the rhythm of political escalation and prevent it from turning into social division or threats of violence.

Article 7 of the Iraqi constitution stipulates that “every entity or approach that adopts racism, terrorism, takfir or sectarian cleansing or that provokes, praises, promotes or justifies such acts shall be forbidden from operating.” However, this article also confirms that an effective implementation will not take place, except through a detailed law stipulated by the Iraqi parliament. Yet, eight years after the approval of the constitution, the parliament has still not succeeded in establishing such a law.

All this suggests a different perspective on the Iraqi crisis in general and to the social division in particular. Is it a factional crisis or a legislative one?