The Iraqi government has amended legislation that would have forced children of converts to Islam to be regarded as Muslims, Asia News service reports.
In yesterday's vote, the Iraqi parliament chose to amend Act 26 of the Constitution, with 140 votes of 206.
For the Iraqi Christian community this is an act of justice and equality, and a key step in the direction "of freedom and democracy in Iraq," Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako told Asia News.
"This decision shows support and is an important message for the minorities [Christians] in Iraq. It is also a clear demonstration of democracy," he said.
Under Iraqi law, children have automatically been considered Muslim if one of their parents converts to Islam. Christians in parliament previously proposed an amendment that would allow children to remain Christian and to choose their own faith at 18, but it was defeated.
The Chaldean prelate had rallied strong public opposition to the measure and had threatened to bring the matter before the international courts. Members of the Chaldean community were joined in protesting the previous ruling by representatives of the Muslim community.
The Patriarch released a statement thanking "all parliamentarians and those who have supported the amendment of this unjust article."
