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Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s Lawyers Speak Out Against New Law

Disputes emerge between lawyers in the Iraqi Kurdistan region in reaction to a new law allowing foreign lawyers to practice their profession there.
Kuridish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani (R), Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz (C) and Kurdistan Regional Government Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami attend the first International Energy Arena in Arbil, about 350 km (217 miles) north of Baghdad, May 20, 2012. Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region expects to start exporting oil from its fields along a new pipeline to the Turkish border when the line is complete in August 2013, Hawrami said on Sunday.   REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (IRAQ - Tags : - Tags:
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Lawyers in the Iraqi Kurdistan region objected to the recent amendment to the bar association law, introduced by the Iraqi Kurdistan parliament. This amendment allows foreign lawyers to practice their profession in the region, especially those specializing in rare fields, such as the oil and gas sector and the investment sector.

During its ordinary session held on May 21, the Iraqi Kurdistan region’s parliament ratified Article 3 of the proposed draft amendment to the bar association law, and added subparagraph 3 to Article 19, paragraph 1, allowing foreign lawyers to practice law in the Kurdistan region according to the principles set forth by the law. After MPs deliberated among themselves and listened to one another’s opinions, the article was voted on and obtained the majority of votes (according to a statement issued by parliament).

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