BAGHDAD — The Iraqi parliament's first reading of the law on the Council of Tribes and Clans was met with rejection, especially on the part of political activists and blocs as well as jurists, writers and journalists.

On Dec. 3, two days after the first reading in parliament to pass the law in subsequent parliamentary sessions, just under 800 Iraqis signed a petition on AVAAZ.org demanding Iraqi President Fuad Masum to withdraw the draft law.

The petition was widely shared on social media, urging Iraqis to sign it. Signatories argued that “Article 45 of the Iraqi Constitution [the legal base of the law on tribes] does not provide for passing a law on tribes. Therefore, there is no need to enact the law on the Council of Tribes and Clans. Passing said draft law would lead to problems and conflicts between Iraqi tribes and clans and exacerbate competition among tribal leaders over chiefdom.”

The petition focused on the main point — which was also discussed in several media outlets — that the establishment of such a council would prevent Iraq’s transition to a civil state, where all citizens enjoy equal citizenship, and would harm the rule of law.