Erbil non-contracted teachers asked about voting preferences

ERBIL — Non-contracted teachers in Erbil and Duhok have been asked to disclose their voting preferences, a request that representatives are calling a violation of the law.

Ali Raouf Mustafa, the general representative for non-contracted teachers in the Kurdistan Region, reported to 964Media that educational institutions in both cities have been distributing forms that inquire about teachers’ voting choices and political affiliations. “Voting cards were requested from teachers, and a form was provided asking for details about their voting preferences and political affiliations,” Mustafa said. “This is an unjust and unfair act.”

In the Kurdistan Region, there are 37,774 teachers who are neither contracted nor permanent government employees; they are paid stipends based on the number of lessons they teach. Unlike their permanently employed peers, these teachers do not receive several standard employment benefits, such as permits, maternity leave, eligibility for government-allocated land, and promotion opportunities.

Mustafa has taken steps to address this issue by contacting the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Education. “It has been halted,” he confirmed.

He described the distribution of the forms as an attempt “to create a sense of pressure and fear among those teachers, particularly with the upcoming Kurdistan Parliament elections scheduled for October 20 this year.”

Mustafa strongly advised teachers “not to disclose any information related to the forms and to report any such incidents to the Ministry of Education and relevant authorities.”

Efforts by 964Media to reach Saman Siwaily, the spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Education, were unsuccessful as there was no response. Similarly, when 964Media reached out to Nabir Shnjary, the spokesperson for the Duhok General Education Directorate, he denied the allegations but declined to provide further details.

In past elections, observers and members of parliament noted that KDP and PUK officials distributed similar forms among security forces and employees, requesting their IDs and voting cards to ensure support for their candidates.

Nawzad Abdullah Abdullah, the spokesperson for the General Directorate of Education in Erbil, told 964Media, “This matter is in no way true and has been distorted.”