Mosul charity clinic suspends services over election candidate interference

MOSUL — A charity medical clinic in Mosul has suspended services indefinitely after its management accused parliamentary election candidates of pressuring staff to prioritize their supporters.

Iraq’s parliamentary elections are set for Nov. 11, when voters will elect all 329 members of the Council of Representatives.

Salah al-Warraq, the clinic’s director, told 964media that for more than a month candidates have been sending patients to the facility “with phone calls demanding expedited consultations, campaign posters, and some accompanied by people affiliated with the candidates who act as though the clinic is under their control.”

He said the clinic normally handles about 200 appointments every Thursday but that disruptions have worsened in recent weeks. “Those sent by candidates want to skip the queue and enter directly, which is unacceptable and disrupts our operations that have been in place for three years,” al-Warraq said.

He added that management considered suspending operations three weeks ago before finally deciding to close. The clinic will remain shut until the issue is resolved.