Electoral Violations Reported in Sulaymaniyah, Halabja During Special Voting Process
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Electoral Violations Reported in Sulaymaniyah, Halabja During Special Voting Process

ERBIL — Serious allegations of electoral misconduct have emerged from Sulaymaniyah and Halabja during the special voting process for the Kurdistan Region's sixth parliamentary elections on Friday, raising concerns about the integrity of the process ahead of the general election on October 20.

Several violations, including voter intimidation, mobile phone use inside polling stations, and the presence of armed individuals, have been reported. According to Nabard Omar, head of the Kurdistan Region's electoral committee within Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), these issues primarily took place in Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, and other districts. Mobile phone use, which is strictly prohibited, has been a recurring issue despite official bans.

In a press statement on Friday, Omar acknowledged the violations but reassured the public that the situation was being handled, with stricter measures now in place to prevent further incidents. "The use of mobile phones inside polling stations is now fully prohibited, and we have addressed the earlier issues," he stated. Despite this, footage obtained by Kurdistan 24 showed security force members using their phones to photograph their ballot papers at polling stations in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja, further fueling concerns over electoral transparency.

Adding to the concerns, a representative from Lahur Sheikh Jangi’s list revealed that a special voting station in Halabja had been completely taken over by armed members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The station, which was designated for 900 voters, fell under the control of PUK forces, severely disrupting the voting process. The representative reported that candidates from rival political parties, including the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), were expelled from polling stations, and PUK officials reportedly coerced voters.

Mohammed Jalal, a representative of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) in Halabja, also spoke out about the irregularities, alleging widespread voter intimidation and ballot tampering. He claimed that a significant portion of voters—approximately 95% of them—had taken photos or videos of their ballot forms, in violation of the electoral regulations. "Many voters openly admitted that they were coerced into taking these actions, with some stating that their livelihoods were at risk if they did not comply," Jalal said in an interview with Kurdistan 24.

Jalal also criticized the IHEC for what he described as their failure to enforce electoral rules. "IHEC officials merely ask voters to put away their phones without any punitive action, and many ignore these requests in front of party representatives," he noted. Moreover, Jalal claimed that armed individuals, including high-ranking officers, were present at polling stations, casting their votes while carrying weapons and photographing their ballot forms.

Further reports of irregularities surfaced from other areas within the Kurdistan Region. In Sulaymaniyah, commanders from the PUK were accused of collecting voting cards from civilians and obstructing the work of electoral officials. Additionally, in the districts of Garmian and Raparin, mobile phones were used inside voting stations, and political representatives from rival parties were reportedly expelled from polling stations, further adding to the growing list of allegations against the PUK.

The takeover of the Burhan Haji Mohammed voting station in Halabja by PUK forces was particularly concerning, with reports indicating that the station remained under the control of armed forces throughout the day. There were also allegations of armed interference at polling stations in Chamchamal, where mobile phones were used to document ballots in violation of the regulations.

Despite these alarming developments, the IHEC reported a 77% turnout by noon during the special voting process for security forces, which began at 7:00 AM and is set to continue until 6:00 PM. A total of 215,960 special voters are participating, including members of the security forces and others whose duties prevent them from voting on the general election day.

The transparency and fairness of the upcoming general election on Sunday, October 20, are now under intense scrutiny, with local and international observers closely monitoring how these violations will be addressed. The successful handling of these issues is seen as crucial for ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in the Kurdistan Region and maintaining public confidence in the democratic system.

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