The Iraqi Government is working on adopting a new National Flag from three selected designs out of 600 within the next few weeks. One of the three selected designs that will be voted upon is designed by a local Detroiter, artist and historian - Amer Hanna Fatuhi (Christian - Chaldean).

However, there is intent among the Iraqi Council of Representatives (CoR / Parliament) to deprive Fatuhi of his entitlement (first place winner). This kind of improper mentality was practiced twice previously by the Iraqi government against this same prominent artist in 1986 and 2004.

The fact of the matter is that the other two designs are in violation of Article 12 of the Constitution, in particular, paragraphs 1 - (a - c) & 2 - (A - B) of the explicit terms of Competition. Furthermore, the CoR’s Committee imposed one of the three selected 1959 designs (made in 1959) upon the contest, and the other one infringes artist Fatuhi’s design that won the 1985 contest. Allowing such violations simply shows a clear pounce on the values of democracy, the infringement of the law, and the Iraqi constitution.

We urge all caring forces of justice, freedom and equality in the world to condemn the performance of the Iraqi Parliament’s committee in order to hopefully recover the winner’s right and adopt Fatuhi’s legitimate, winning design, which is the only qualified one among the three selected designs that abides by the conditions of the competition. It is also the only design that satisfies the national values and represents Iraq's land, people, and its civilization, according to a vast number of Iraqi intellectuals.

To learn more about artist and historian Fatuhi’s biography and his winning designs in the Iraqi National Flag contests in 1985 and 2008 visit: http://amerfatuhiart.com/Art-Plus.html

M&PR / Iraqi American Media
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