Taqaddum’s Abtan urges greater Sunni turnout, warns against abstention

BAGHDAD — Deputy Chair of Iraq’s Parliamentary Legal Committee, Abdul Karim Abtan, on Sunday called for greater Sunni participation in the country’s upcoming elections, warning that low turnout is undermining the community’s political strength.

“About 70% of Sunnis do not participate in elections, and this harms our position,” he said in an interview with Al-Rasheed TV. “The number of seats in parliament has dropped from 90 to fewer than 70 currently.”

Abtan defended his party, Taqaddum, and its leader, Mohammed Al-Halbousi, calling him “a fierce tactician” who has effectively handled issues affecting the Sunni community. He added that Taqaddum is expected to secure “the largest share” of votes in the parliamentary elections.

Excerpts from Abdul Karim Abtan’s interview with Al-Rasheed TV:

I am among those who believe in monogamy and I married only one woman. God Almighty said, ‘But if you fear that you will not be just…’ We fear falling into wrongdoing. My wife is from Jabour and I have eight sons and daughters, and 26 grandchildren.

My hometown fought the occupation, but I never carried a weapon. I supported everyone who carried arms to fight the occupier at the time. I supported them through the media and in other ways, and I still respect the resistance fighters who fought the occupation without harming Iraqis. Fallujah is the ‘headband of Iraq’ in fighting the Americans.

To this day, about 70% of Sunnis do not participate in elections, and this harms our position. The number of seats in parliament has dropped from 90 to fewer than 70 currently.

Not all parliamentarians and politicians are thieves or agents. Among them are those whose hands have not been stained with corruption, who have not knocked on the doors of embassies or chased commissions or money. Therefore, participation is a way to repel harm, and this is a trust before God.

Today, I sense some awareness to go to the elections, but in every election, vote-buying begins by candidates with internal and external agendas, as well as smear campaigns. I hope the voter will not be influenced by this and will consider the country’s interest.

Election results say that at least 50% of Baghdad’s residents are Sunnis.

In the provincial councils, people went in droves toward Taqaddum because they believe it is the savior. This is what will happen in the parliamentary elections—Taqaddum will take the largest share.

Sunnis in Baghdad have no other option but Halbousi in the upcoming elections. I respect their choices if they decide otherwise. We are counting on Halbousi running in Baghdad, and this is a qualitative addition to Taqaddum as he is a young national figure who understands and is a fierce tactician. He succeeded in managing the files related to the Sunni community, and I believe he is the leader of the Sunnis.