The Federal Integrity Commission is Iraq’s main anti-corruption body. It was first created after 2003 under a Coalition Provisional Authority order. Law No. 30 of 2011 replaced that order with a full Iraqi statute.
Legal Status
Article 2 defines the Commission as an independent body subject to oversight by the Council of Representatives. It has legal personality and financial and administrative independence, and is represented by its president or whoever he authorizes.
Objectives
The Commission’s stated goal is to prevent and combat corruption by all lawful means. The law was also passed to bring Iraq in line with the UN Convention against Corruption, which Iraq joined in 2007.
Main Powers
- Investigation. The Commission’s investigators examine corruption cases under the supervision of an investigating judge. The Commission’s president may open investigation directorates in all provinces.
- Financial disclosure. Senior officials and public employees must declare their assets, and the Commission monitors these declarations.
- Prevention and awareness. It promotes transparency, codes of conduct, and public education against corruption.
2019 Amendment
The first amendment, Law No. 30 of 2019, was passed by parliament in December 2019. It revised the Commission’s governance and procedures, defined corruption crimes more precisely, and added illicit gain to the law’s scope. The law is now officially titled the Integrity Commission and Illicit Gain Law.
Kurdistan Region
The Kurdistan Region has its own integrity commission under Regional Law No. 3 of 2011, which the regional parliament has since amended.
Debates
Common criticisms include political pressure on investigations, overlap with the Board of Supreme Audit and other oversight bodies, and the difficulty of recovering stolen funds. Legal scholars continue to examine how the Commission’s structure affects its independence and effectiveness.