In Iraq, calls for a boycott of legislative elections multiply to demand justice

Published on : 09/24/2021 – 5:23 PM

These calls for a boycott of the legislative elections have spread as a result of the terror sparked by a wave of assassinations of pro-democracy activists. More than 70 activists have been assassinated since the start of a series of protests in October 2019 calling in particular for an end to corruption and Iran’s influence in the country. The militants see in these crimes, which have gone unpunished, the hand of pro-Iranian Shiite militias from Hachd al-Chaabi.

Bringing together 60 to 70 Shiite armed brigades, the Hachd al-Chaabi was created following the call launched in June 2014 by Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani for jhad against the Islamic State organization, which had just seized the city of Mosul.

The assassinations of the militants have not been claimed, but for the militants, as for the UN, they are “militias” in a country where armed groups financed by Iran have continued to gain influence. .

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Under the hashtag “Iraqis Cries for Change,” videos showing activists putting up posters calling for a boycott or pulling up posters of candidates have been posted on social media since late August.

_{A woman hangs a small poster with the inscription “No, I will not vote”, just below that of a legislative candidate. September 21, 2021.}

_{A woman sticks a “no” poster on a banner of the Rule of Law Coalition, formed by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Adhamiya constituency, Baghdad, September 7, 2021.}

“We cannot vote in a climate of terror”

Samer al-Saïdi is spokesperson for the campaign “Iraqis Cries for Change. He lives in exile in Turkey.

I participated in the anti-government demonstrations in 2017. And subsequently in those of October 2019. But on July 17, 2020, three men in a black vehicle, members of a militia, threatened me. in the street. Ten days later, I left the country for Turkey.

This campaign consists of sticking “no” posters on candidates’ posters all over Iraq. The faces of the participants are covered, to protect their safety.

_{A hooded man puts up posters calling for a boycott of the elections in the street. September 16, 2921.}

_{A person taps with a tap then pretends to spit on posters of candidates. On one of them, we see Sara Allaoui, daughter of former Prime Minister Iyad Allaoui.}

We reject these elections because in Iraq weapons are out of state control. These are the weapons which are in the hands of the militias of Hachd al-Chaabi and which threaten the security of the civilian population. We cannot vote in a climate of terror.

Even the Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kazim, is powerless in the face of these militias. Last May, they had invaded Baghdad High Security Zone [ NDLR : où se trouvent les principales institutions et les ambassades] following the arrest of one of their commanders, Kassem Mousleh, accused of the murder of a known anti-power activist, Ehab al-Ouazni. As a result, under pressure from these militias, the government was forced to release him.

“All militias have representatives in Parliament”

These same armed militias participate in political life and have representatives in the government and all have them in Parliament.

For example Hossein Mones, the leader of the houqouq (rights in Arabic) movement which has just been created, participates in the elections when he comes from the Iraqi Hezbollah brigades. [milice chiite pro-iranienne considérée comme la plus puissante du Hachd al-Chaabi avec un effectif d’environ 10 000 hommes, NDLR], which is on the list of terrorist organizations of the United States.

_{A man taps several posters of candidates as well as an Iranian flag with a shoe, as Tehran is often accused by the opposition of interfering in Iraqi political life. “I will not vote Hachd al-Chaabi terrorist,” he said.}

The Sadiqoun political group which also participates in these elections is none other than the political branch of the Asaïb Ahl al-Haq militias. [milice accusée de plusieurs massacres massifs de civils en 2014, NDLR]. And the list is still long.

The assassinations during the demonstrations, the targeted assassinations, the kidnappings and acts of torture which targeted the activists did not give rise to any serious investigation. No suspect has been tried to date. We will not vote until the murderers of pro-democracy activists are tried.

In addition, the country is plagued by corruption. One hundred and forty-seven complaints for acts of political corruption are on the table of the Government Anti-Corruption Commission, and no case has been dealt with so far, because we know who is behind these cases: the militias and their political arms.

Last March, a AFP survey revealed that it is mainly groups of the Hachd al-Chaabi which hold the land border crossings and the docks where the goods transit. At all these border posts, parties and factions place customs officers who facilitate the passage of cargoes when importers have paid them bribes.

According to official Iraqi figures, since 2003, more than 410 billion euros have disappeared in the twists and turns of corruption, twice the country’s GDP.

Despite the threat to security, Samer al-Saïdi says activists from the Iraqi Cries for Change campaign will take to the streets on October 1 to demonstrate against the ballot in several cities across the country. They have already held a rally in Baghdad.

_{Demonstration organized by members of the campaign “Iraqis Cries for Change in Babel, September 12th.}

Parties and political figures announced boycotting the elections, citing predictable fraud and corruption among candidates.

Deputy Faeq al-Sheikh Ali, leader of theTamaddoun alliance (civilized), a movement made up mainly of figures from civil society, announced last May that it renounced to stand for the ballot, following the assassination of anti-government activist Ehab al-Ouazni. In the process, the National Bloc, a political movement born of the demonstrations of October 2019, also announced its withdrawal.

Nearly 25 million Iraqis are expected to vote on October 10 to elect 329 members of parliament. Over 3,200 candidates are running, between party affiliates and independents, in the country’s 83 constituencies.

First scheduled for 2022, these legislative elections were brought forward for the first time in June 2021 and then finally in October, to defuse the popular protest movement of 2019.