Washington, DC – An IRI poll conducted from April 11-20, 2005, found that a strong majority of Iraqis want basic human rights protected in their constitution. In addition, a majority agree that those who did not participate in the January 30 election have a right to contribute to writing the constitution.
Nearly 68 percent of Iraqis strongly agree that basic human rights should be part of their constitution. When asked how important it was that basic human rights be included, Iraqis responded the following were very important:
- select or change government through peaceful and fair elections 71.4 percent;
- fair and public trials 70 percent;
- no discrimination based on religion, race, sex, ethnicity 69.1 percent;
- no torture or degrading punishment 67.8 percent;
- individual privacy 65.9 percent;
- no arbitrary arrest or detention 65.7 percent;
- freely practice religion 60 percent; free speech and press 55.8 percent;
- own and sell property 51.9 percent; and
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organize political, civic or labor organizations 41.8 percent.
The poll also found that Iraqis are confident in the new Iraq Transitional Government elected on January 30. Thirty-four percent are very confident and 40 percent are somewhat confident in the new government. Iraqis also feel the new government represents the country as a whole with 35.5 percent responding very representative and 37.3 responding generally representative.
In looking to what type of government Iraqis want, the poll indicated that debate will be lively. More than 33 percent prefer a mixed parliamentary/presidential form and more than 30 percent prefer a parliamentary form. Nearly 53 percent support term limits for the executive and 51.6 percent support keeping the 25 percent quota for women in the National Assembly while 25.5 percent favor making it higher.
In a positive sign for the October constitutional referendum, 75.6 percent of Iraqis say they are very likely to vote with another 16.2 percent somewhat likely. In the Sunni areas, where turnout in the January election was less than 10 percent, more than 80 percent are very likely or somewhat likely to vote in the referendum.
An Iraqi polling form conducted 2,705 face-to-face interviews in 15 of the 18 governorates, the margin of error in plus or minus 2.75 percent.
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