Sulaymaniyah election committee urges compliance with campaign rules

SULAYMANIYAH — The Sulaymaniyah Provincial Committee for Electoral Peace has called on all political parties and candidates to strictly adhere to laws and regulations governing the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region, set for Oct. 20. Election campaigns are expected to begin next week.

Led by Sulaymaniyah Governor Haval Abu Bakr, the committee issued a series of directives to ensure orderly conduct throughout the election period. The first directive mandates full compliance with the laws and decisions set forth by the Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq, the Kurdistan Region’s Higher Committee for Electoral Peace, and the Sulaymaniyah Provincial Committee for Electoral Peace.

The committee emphasized the need for “civilized” campaigns, urging political groups and their supporters to avoid violence and to maintain public peace and security. Displaying weapons, involving armed individuals, and staging military demonstrations during campaigns are “strictly prohibited.”

The committee also banned convoys or processions that could disrupt traffic or block public roads. It stressed the importance of addressing any disputes through legal channels, including courts and the Independent High Electoral Commission, rather than through personal confrontations or retaliatory actions.

The upcoming elections will shape the composition of the Kurdistan Regional Parliament for its sixth term. Initially scheduled for 2022, the elections were delayed due to political disputes over electoral reforms and logistical challenges. More than 2,899,000 voters are registered, with five seats reserved for minority representatives in the 100-member parliament.

Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani recently addressed the importance of peaceful campaigns during a Council of Ministers meeting, while public intellectuals, activists, and journalists across the region have urged an end to hostile behavior leading up to the elections. Additionally, the Environmental Protection and Improvement Board has called for environmental protection measures during campaign activities.