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Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Disqualified candidates: Iraq's electoral body under fire
Shafaq News Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has sparked wide debate after disqualifying a number of candidates from the 2025 parliamentary elections based on the 'good conduct' requirement. The commission announced earlier that 65 candidates cannot run in the upcoming elections for violating Article 7/3 of the amended Law No. 12 of 2018 on parliamentary and provincial council elections. It had also excluded others over criminal records involving charges of previously belonging to the Ba'ath Party, murder, bribery, forgery, fraud, and corruption. Sources told Shafaq News that over 75 candidates will be excluded, with the number potentially rising to around 200. Broad Interpretation Of 'Good Conduct' Legal expert Mohammed Jumaa explained that the disqualifications are based on Article 7 of the Election Law, which sets conditions for candidacy, including 'good conduct and reputation' and the absence of criminal convictions related to felonies, misdemeanors involving moral turpitude, or corruption cases—even if the candidate was later pardoned. Jumaa told Shafaq News that the commission adopted a broad interpretation of 'good conduct' to include candidates who have not been convicted by a final judicial ruling but face unresolved accusations or pending lawsuits. The commission considers these allegations sufficient grounds to fail the conduct requirement. While Jumaa acknowledged the commission's right to interpret legal provisions and exclude unqualified candidates, he expressed reservations about extending disqualification to those merely accused, stressing that accusations alone are not legally sufficient evidence and could be politically motivated. He also emphasized the importance of distinguishing between 'accusation' and 'conviction,' affirming that 'the principle of presumed innocence applies unless proven guilty by a final court ruling.' Political Criticism And Controversy Political analyst Abbas Al-Jubouri described the disqualifications as 'surprising and unusual,' noting that some excluded candidates have served four consecutive parliamentary terms. In an interview with Shafaq News Agency, he called the justification of 'de-Ba'athification' (removal of former Ba'ath Party members) 'illogical,' especially as some excluded figures played key roles in Iraq's fight against ISIS. Al-Jubouri suggested many exclusions were politically motivated, characterizing the process as a 'purge' carried out by the electoral commission. Warning that these measures risk upsetting Iraq's political balance, particularly amid the absence of the influential Patriotic Shiite Movement (led by Muqtada Al-Sadr) from the elections, Al-Jubouri cautioned that excluding experienced politicians could open the door for less qualified candidates, undermining the effectiveness of the next parliament. IHEC response and appeals process In response, the electoral commission defended its decisions. Hassan Hadi Zayer, a member of the commission's media team, stated that candidates were excluded for failing to meet the requirements outlined in the amended Election Law No. 12 of 2018, specifically Article 3/7. This article mandates that candidates must have 'good conduct and reputation' and must not have final convictions for crimes involving moral turpitude, including administrative and financial corruption, regardless of any pardons. Zayer told Shafaq News that verification is ongoing and no final figure on disqualified candidates is available, as relevant departments continue submitting their findings. He noted that excluded candidates have the right to appeal within three days of the announcement on the commission's official website, and the judicial body will issue rulings on appeals within ten days. Enforcement And Anti-Corruption View Anti-corruption expert Saeed Yaseen said the exclusions reflect strict enforcement of election commission regulations and applicable laws, carried out in cooperation with the Integrity Commission, Accountability and Justice Commission, and judiciary, alongside criminal record reviews. Yaseen told Shafaq News that the election commission's board, made up of judges, handles files impartially and strictly according to legal texts, with no favoritism. 'This process is an important demonstration of transparency and the rule of law,' he said, explaining that the recent general amnesty law covered cases including forgery, corruption, fraud, and crimes involving moral turpitude, which directly affect the good conduct criterion essential for candidacy. Yaseen expected the commission to release additional exclusion lists as the comprehensive screening continues, ensuring candidates are free from accountability procedures, criminal records, and dishonorable convictions, with ongoing coordination with the Integrity Commission and citizen reports analysis. 'The commission is moving in the right direction, and it is necessary to monitor upcoming stages, especially election campaigning and controlling misuse of public funds, to build citizen trust in the electoral process.' Support From Political Figures Former MP Razzak Al-Haidari praised the commission's decisions as 'wise and courageous,' saying they would enhance electoral integrity and boost public confidence in the next parliament. Al-Haidari told Shafaq News that the commission's move paves the way for a parliament that meets clear legal standards, 'positively impacting public trust and encouraging broad participation in the upcoming elections, which will strengthen domestic and international recognition of Iraq's political system.' He added that such measures should have been applied in previous elections through candidate vetting based on the law, emphasizing that 'equal enforcement of the law is fundamental to ensuring a fair election and genuine representation.' Legal Framework And Violations From a legal perspective, researcher Ali Al-Tamimi confirmed that the commission's decisions rely on clear legal grounds stemming from election laws and regulations, including the amended Election Law No. 12 of 2018 (amended by Law No. 4 of 2023), the election complaints and appeals system, codes of conduct, and candidate registration instructions issued this year. Al-Tamimi told Shafaq News that the law prohibits candidacy if a candidate violates eligibility criteria or commits election crimes such as inciting sectarianism, attacking state institutions, defaming the judiciary or rival candidates, or acts punishable under the Iraqi Penal Code No. 111 of 1969. He noted that the commission has the authority to revoke candidate approvals based on submitted evidence and can refer violations to the legal department to pursue court cases, concluding that the pre-election phase is 'a true test for candidates, where success favors those committed to the law and free from violations.' Election Timeline And Participation The campaigning period will start at least one month before polling day, following the final approval of candidate lists now under review by relevant state bodies. The Commission is preparing for the November 11, 2025, parliamentary elections, with 31 political alliances, 38 parties, and 79 independent candidates registered to run, and around 29 million eligible voters.
Jordan News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara Makes Second Official Visit to UAE Since Taking Office - Jordan News
Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara departed for the United Arab Emirates on Monday, marking his second official visit to the Gulf country since assuming office. اضافة اعلان According to the official Syrian news agency SANA, 'President of the Republic Ahmad Al-Shara heads to the United Arab Emirates on an official visit,' without specifying the duration or agenda of the visit. On April 13, Al-Shara had previously visited Abu Dhabi, where he met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, according to SANA. On December 8, 2024, Syrian factions took control of Damascus, following the fall of several major cities, bringing an end to 61 years of Ba'ath Party rule and 53 years of Assad family dominance. The new Syrian administration announced Ahmad Al-Shara as president on January 29, 2025, to lead the country through a five-year transitional period. — (Anadolu)
Rudaw Net
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Efforts intensify to restore 900,000 dunams of confiscated lands in Kirkuk: MP
Also in Iraq Dust storm hospitalizes over 3,700 in Iraq Over 1,300 suffocation cases reported in southern Iraq amid dust storm Iraqi parliament passes bill to make Halabja the 19th province Iraqi strike kills suspected ISIS members in Salahaddin A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Efforts are underway to return more than 900,000 dunams of land confiscated from Kurdish citizens in Kirkuk province, a Kurdish lawmaker representing Kirkuk in the Iraqi parliament told Rudaw on Tuesday. The vast tracts of land were seized under decisions issued by a Ba'ath-era commission known as the Northern Affairs Committee, which was tasked with overseeing the Arabization campaign in the provinces of the Kurdistan Region, as well as in Kirkuk and other disputed areas with significant Kurdish, Turkmen, and Christian populations. Kirkuk MP Habib confirmed to Rudaw that efforts have intensified 'in the past two weeks to address the issue of Kurdish citizens' lands that were seized under the decisions of the Northern Affairs Committee of the defunct Ba'ath Party, estimated at around 900,000 dunams.' These lands were supposed to be returned to their original Kurdish owners or usufructuaries in accordance with Iraqi Cabinet Resolution No. 29 of 2012, but the decision was never implemented. Cabinet decision No. 29 of 2012, orders the cancellation of all decisions related to agricultural lands owned or usufructed by non-Arabs in Kirkuk province, whose contracts had previously been annulled or whose usufruct rights were extinguished by the Northern Affairs Committee of the former Ba'ath regime. The decision aims to restore the legal status of the lands to what it was before those Ba'ath-era decisions, and it is considered binding and enforceable. MP Habib said that stated that 'the issue will soon be resolved per a new agreement [among political blocs],' and added that Kurdish citizens whose lands were seized, or whose usufruct rights were annulled, would be required to fill out official forms to initiate the process of reclaiming them. The Northern Affairs Committee of the dissolved Ba'ath Party had previously revoked the contracts of Kurdish citizens that granted them the right to own or work on these lands, and reallocated the properties to Arab settlers who had been transferred to Kirkuk as part of a policy aimed at altering its demographic composition. For his part, Kakarash Sadiq, head of the office for the implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, told Rudaw that the issue has two dimensions. On one hand, it involves lands whose agricultural contracts were extinguished, covering more than 3,000 dunams. On the other hand, it concerns properties that were fully expropriated, after which new contracts were issued to Arab settlers. According to Sadiq, this latter category falls under the jurisdiction of the Iraqi justice ministry, and official correspondence will be sent to the first and second real estate registration departments in Kirkuk to begin the legal process of returning these lands to their rightful owners.
Shafaq News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Leader Barzani on Anfal campaign: Iraq must end Chauvinistic actions
Shafaq News/ On Monday, Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani commemorated the 37th anniversary of the Anfal campaign, calling on the Iraqi government to prevent the repetition of "chauvinistic policies" against the Kurds. In a statement, Barzani described the campaign carried out by the former Iraqi regime as "one of the most horrific crimes of the last century," during which more than 180,000 citizens were martyred or went missing due to inhumane operations that affected all areas of the Kurdistan Region. The campaign, he added, coincided with "chemical bombings, Arabization policies, forced displacement, and the destruction of thousands of villages and the economic infrastructure," emphasizing that these crimes were part of a broader plan aimed at targeting the existence and identity of the Kurdish people. The leader called on the Iraqi government to "assume legal and moral responsibility for compensating the victims," stressing that the true honor for the martyrs of Anfal lies in uniting efforts to serve the homeland and build a brighter future. About The Campaign The Anfal campaign, which began in 1986, escalated in 1988 and continued through 1989, was led by Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as "Chemical Ali." He served as Secretary General of the Ba'ath Party's Northern Bureau and military governor, with military operations directed by former Iraqi Defense Minister Sultan Hashim. On May 3, 2011, the Iraqi High Criminal Court classified the campaign as a 'crime against humanity and genocide,' convicting al-Majid, who was also behind the chemical attack on Halabja. He was executed on January 25, 2010. The Kurdistan Regional Government has designated April 14 as an annual day of remembrance for the victims of this genocide.
Shafaq News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
PM Al-Sudani: Iraq has turned the page on Anfal-era tyranny
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani commemorated the victims of the Anfal Campaign, condemning the atrocities committed against the Kurdish population 37 years ago by the former Ba'athist regime. In a post on X, Al-Sudani emphasized that Iraq has since turned the page on tyranny, affirming that the values of unity and peaceful coexistence have prevailed over the divisions the former regime sought to impose. The Anfal Campaign, launched in 1986 and peaking in 1988, was orchestrated by Ali Hassan al-Majid—known as 'Chemical Ali'—who served as the Ba'ath Party's Northern Bureau chief and military governor of the region. Military operations were led by then-Defense Minister Sultan Hashim. In May 3, 2011, Iraq's High Criminal Court officially classified the campaign as genocide and a crime against humanity. Al-Majid, also responsible for the chemical attack on Halabja, was sentenced to death and executed in 2010. The Kurdistan Regional Government commemorates the victims annually on April 14.
