MOSUL, Iraq (UPI) -- A decision to remove an article from the Iraqi provincial elections law that includes quotas for religious minorities is an act of betrayal, Christians say.

Iraqi lawmakers Sept. 24 passed a version of the provincial elections law without an earlier provision that includes a specified allocation of representation to religious minorities.

The Sept. 24 measure, however, included a quota for female representation.

The bill requires the approval of a three-member presidential council before taking effect. If it does, says a report in The Assyria Times Monday, religious minorities in Iraq will lose their right for democratic representation in the new Iraqi government.

The Times referred to the decision as a gross violation of the principles of democracy perpetrated by the very leaders who swore to move for national reconciliation.

The Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East sent a letter to the Iraqi government calling for a veto of the decision to eliminate the religious minority quota.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki echoed those sentiments in a weekend statement to Parliament.

"We hoped Parliament would approve the draft submitted by the cabinet, which included protection of the representation for minorities according to the constitution," he said.

Iraqi Christians took the streets after Sunday mass in northern Iraq in protest of the measure.