ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A week into campaigning for Iraq’s provincial council elections, there are no posters or election signs in the busy streets of Baghdad’s Sadr City, a stronghold of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose party is not taking part in the vote.
"Neither I nor my family will take part in the elections," said Saed Abdulrazaq, who lives in Sadr City. "We will take part in elections only if something is done in favor of the nations of Iraq.”
"No services have been brought to Sadr City. There are more oppressed people out there. Go and check the areas of Maamil and Shishan [another two Baghdad neighborhoods] that have turned into landfills. People walk barefoot. I swear to God, they starve to death,” he added.
The provincial councils were dissolved in 2019 in response to demands by Tishreen protesters who criticized the system for its failures and for enabling corruption. After several postponements, the election date was set for December 18. The last vote was held in 2013, excluding Kirkuk.
Populist leader Muqtada al-Sadr, who was at loggerheads with his political rivals in the parliament and government, last year announced his retirement from politics.
His supporters have blocked candidates running for the provincial council from putting up posters across the alleys and streets of Sadr City.
"No election campaigning is allowed here at all," said Rafd Hassan, a resident of Sadr City. "Any candidates who come and place their posters, we will immediately tear them apart. Because all we have seen so far has been a lie. They cannot provide any solutions for these poor people."
Karrar Mohammed, another resident of Sadr City, seethes about all the unfulfilled promises.
"This is an election only in name. Trust me, they have already finished the cake, slicing it up all among them. It is finished. Therefore, I will not vote," he said.
The election commission has warned against anyone damaging or removing election posters, saying such actions are punishable according to the law.
"We have come across cases of violations against candidates' posters. Our department of complaints has launched investigations against violators. Any citizen caught distorting or removing posters will be brought to criminal court," Nyras Abu Soda, media officer for the elections body, told Rudaw on Friday.
Created by the 2005 constitution after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, the provincial councils are powerful bodies that hold significant power in the country, including setting budgets for several sectors such as education, health, and transport.
"Neither I nor my family will take part in the elections," said Saed Abdulrazaq, who lives in Sadr City. "We will take part in elections only if something is done in favor of the nations of Iraq.”
"No services have been brought to Sadr City. There are more oppressed people out there. Go and check the areas of Maamil and Shishan [another two Baghdad neighborhoods] that have turned into landfills. People walk barefoot. I swear to God, they starve to death,” he added.
The provincial councils were dissolved in 2019 in response to demands by Tishreen protesters who criticized the system for its failures and for enabling corruption. After several postponements, the election date was set for December 18. The last vote was held in 2013, excluding Kirkuk.
Populist leader Muqtada al-Sadr, who was at loggerheads with his political rivals in the parliament and government, last year announced his retirement from politics.
His supporters have blocked candidates running for the provincial council from putting up posters across the alleys and streets of Sadr City.
"No election campaigning is allowed here at all," said Rafd Hassan, a resident of Sadr City. "Any candidates who come and place their posters, we will immediately tear them apart. Because all we have seen so far has been a lie. They cannot provide any solutions for these poor people."
Karrar Mohammed, another resident of Sadr City, seethes about all the unfulfilled promises.
"This is an election only in name. Trust me, they have already finished the cake, slicing it up all among them. It is finished. Therefore, I will not vote," he said.
The election commission has warned against anyone damaging or removing election posters, saying such actions are punishable according to the law.
"We have come across cases of violations against candidates' posters. Our department of complaints has launched investigations against violators. Any citizen caught distorting or removing posters will be brought to criminal court," Nyras Abu Soda, media officer for the elections body, told Rudaw on Friday.
Created by the 2005 constitution after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, the provincial councils are powerful bodies that hold significant power in the country, including setting budgets for several sectors such as education, health, and transport.
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