Islamic party boycotting Iraqi election because of Kurdish disunity
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Islamic Movement (KIM) will boycott Iraqi elections, arguing that with the current disunity it will not be possible to promote the Kurdish cause in Baghdad.
“The official position of the Islamic Movement is that the dangers and threats on the national entity of the Kurdistan Region will not be neutralized by the formation of these disorganized alliances,” read a statement from the KIM on Saturday.
So far, one Kurdish alliance has been announced for the May 12 Iraqi elections. Gorran, the Islamic Group (Komal), and the Coalition for Democracy and Justice (CDJ) will run on a joint list in the disputed areas. They have called their coalition Nishtiman and will be headed by Gorran’s Yousif Mohammed.
The Kurdistan Islamic Union, the largest Islamic party in the Region, has announced it will be running independently.
The two ruling parties of the Kurdistan Region, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), have not yet revealed their plans for the Iraqi elections.
“Each of the political alliances formed in Kurdistan to take part in Iraqi elections might guarantee some posts and privileges for participating parties of these alliances, but Kurdish status and weight will not return to pre-October 16. That is why we are announcing that the Islamic Movement will not participate in any of these political alliances in Kurdistan, and will not run on an independent list in an Iraqi game,” the KIM statement reads.
October 16 is the date that Iraqi forces took control of Kirkuk from the Peshmerga. They subsequently took over the majority of the disputed areas.
KIM asserted that only if all Kurdish parties are united, especially in the disputed areas, can they confront threats against the Kurdistan Region and “make the central authority submit and give up on its hegemony.”
In the Kurdistan Region, however, they propose a different tactic, urging opposition parties to “form a joint alliance in an attempt to end 25 years of injustice and corruption.”
The party had sought to form an opposition front with Gorran and Komal in December.
The KIM is a small party with no seats in Baghdad and one in the Kurdistan Region parliament.
“The official position of the Islamic Movement is that the dangers and threats on the national entity of the Kurdistan Region will not be neutralized by the formation of these disorganized alliances,” read a statement from the KIM on Saturday.
So far, one Kurdish alliance has been announced for the May 12 Iraqi elections. Gorran, the Islamic Group (Komal), and the Coalition for Democracy and Justice (CDJ) will run on a joint list in the disputed areas. They have called their coalition Nishtiman and will be headed by Gorran’s Yousif Mohammed.
The Kurdistan Islamic Union, the largest Islamic party in the Region, has announced it will be running independently.
The two ruling parties of the Kurdistan Region, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), have not yet revealed their plans for the Iraqi elections.
“Each of the political alliances formed in Kurdistan to take part in Iraqi elections might guarantee some posts and privileges for participating parties of these alliances, but Kurdish status and weight will not return to pre-October 16. That is why we are announcing that the Islamic Movement will not participate in any of these political alliances in Kurdistan, and will not run on an independent list in an Iraqi game,” the KIM statement reads.
October 16 is the date that Iraqi forces took control of Kirkuk from the Peshmerga. They subsequently took over the majority of the disputed areas.
KIM asserted that only if all Kurdish parties are united, especially in the disputed areas, can they confront threats against the Kurdistan Region and “make the central authority submit and give up on its hegemony.”
In the Kurdistan Region, however, they propose a different tactic, urging opposition parties to “form a joint alliance in an attempt to end 25 years of injustice and corruption.”
The party had sought to form an opposition front with Gorran and Komal in December.
The KIM is a small party with no seats in Baghdad and one in the Kurdistan Region parliament.