ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Iraqi parliament’s presidency on Saturday stressed the need for holding regular sessions, calling on boycotting blocs to return and participate while warning that “unjustified absentees" could see their memberships terminated.

The parliament’s presidency, consisting of Parliamentary Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and his two deputies, Muhsin al-Mandalawi and Shakhawan Abdullah, on Saturday came together after the adjournment of a session due to a failure to meet the parliament’s participation quorum.

In a statement after the meeting, the presidency emphasized three key points that were discussed during the meeting. The statement stressed the need “for regular parliamentary sessions” as a constitutional responsibility that cannot be postponed and called on “the boycotting parliamentary blocs to return and participate actively.”

The “presidency's decision to proceed with the implementation of the internal regulations for unjustified absentees, leading to the termination of their membership,” was also highlighted.

The presidency affirmed that “achieving a quorum is the cornerstone of completing constitutional tasks, foremost among which is voting on laws and decisions awaited by broad segments of the Iraqi people.”

The Iraqi parliament was set to discuss and vote on several draft laws during Saturday’s session, including a proposed bill on freedom of expression and peaceful protest that has raised concerns among journalists and political figures. Lawmakers expressed concern that the current version of the draft includes vague and broad language that could be used to restrict, rather than protect, basic freedoms.

The parliament announced shortly after the adjournment that another session will be held on Sunday afternoon, with the same agenda as the adjourned Saturday meeting, consisting of nine points, including the freedom of expression bill.

“There is wide opposition in the parliament to the law in its current form,” MP Hadi al-Salami told The New Region. “It includes unclear terms that could be interpreted in a way that limits freedoms instead of defending them.”

Salami said the draft law could legitimize security crackdowns on citizens and warned that it poses a threat to constitutional rights guaranteed by Iraq’s legal system, with MP Ali al-Saadi on Saturday submitting a proposal for amendments to the controversial bill.