The story: Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court (FSC) has deemed three highly contentious pieces of legislation as constitutional, paving the way for their implementation after multiple legal challenges. The top court’s preliminary suspension of the laws only days prior triggered both praise and anger from the public. The ensuing uproar saw charges, primarily by advocates of the Sunni-backed General Amnesty Law, that the court was politicized—sparking protests and work stoppages in Sunni-majority governorate.

The coverage: The Iraqi parliament’s Jan. 21 approval of divisive amendments to the country’s personal status and general amnesty...