A member of Kurdish Peshmerga military forces shows her ink-stained finger after voting in a special process on October 8, 2021 in Erbil, two days before Iraq's parliamentary elections. Reuters
A member of Kurdish Peshmerga military forces shows her ink-stained finger after voting in a special process on October 8, 2021 in Erbil, two days before Iraq's parliamentary elections. Reuters
An Iraqi federal policeman casts his vote in Baghdad. AP Photo
An Iraqi federal policeman casts his vote in Baghdad. AP Photo
Members of Iraq's security forces wait to vote on Friday, two days before the country's parliamentary elections. AP Photo
Members of Iraq's security forces wait to vote on Friday, two days before the country's parliamentary elections. AP Photo
Security personnel in Baghdad gather to vote during early voting for security forces before Sunday's parliamentary election. AP Photo
Security personnel in Baghdad gather to vote during early voting for security forces before Sunday's parliamentary election. AP Photo
A displaced woman from the minority Yazidi sect arrives to cast her vote at the Sharya camp in Duhok, Iraq. Reuters
A displaced woman from the minority Yazidi sect arrives to cast her vote at the Sharya camp in Duhok, Iraq. Reuters
An Iraqi federal policeman ​after voting early in Iraq's parliamentary election. AP Photo
An Iraqi federal policeman ​after voting early in Iraq's parliamentary election. AP Photo
Displaced Yazidis prepare to vote at the Sharya camp in Duhok, Iraq. Reuters
Displaced Yazidis prepare to vote at the Sharya camp in Duhok, Iraq. Reuters
An Iraqi traffic policeman casts his vote at a polling centre in Basra. AP Photo
An Iraqi traffic policeman casts his vote at a polling centre in Basra. AP Photo
A police officer casts his vote in Basra, Iraq. AP Photo
A police officer casts his vote in Basra, Iraq. AP Photo
Members of Iraqi security forces outside a polling station in Mosul wait to cast their vote. Reuters
Members of Iraqi security forces outside a polling station in Mosul wait to cast their vote. Reuters
A soldier casts his vote in Baghdad. AP Photo
A soldier casts his vote in Baghdad. AP Photo
One of many polling stations in Baghdad that opened on Friday to allow members of Iraq's security forces to vote early for Sunday's parliamentary election. Reuters
One of many polling stations in Baghdad that opened on Friday to allow members of Iraq's security forces to vote early for Sunday's parliamentary election. Reuters
A member of the Kurdish Peshmerga military votes in Erbil. Reuters
A member of the Kurdish Peshmerga military votes in Erbil. Reuters
An Iraqi officer at a polling station in the capital, Baghdad. Reuters
An Iraqi officer at a polling station in the capital, Baghdad. Reuters

MENA

Iraq

Iraq election: security forces and displaced Iraqis cast first ballots

More than one million people living far from their home regions were eligible to vote early for Sunday's parliamentary election

The National

October 08, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Security forces, displaced people and prisoners voted on Friday in Iraq's parliamentary election, two days before the rest of the country.

In Baghdad, security was tight as dozens of army cadets wearing face masks and gloves lined up at a polling station set up in a school, after voting began at 7am.

More than one million members of the security forces were able to vote on Friday in the places where they are stationed because voting in their home regions, as other citizens will do, could prove challenging for those posted in distant locations.

But the 160,000 members of the Hashed Al Shaabi, the grouping of state-sanctioned paramilitary groups, will have to vote on Sunday after the electoral commission said it had not been given lists of fighters eligible to vote early.

Also casting early ballots were about 120,000 displaced Iraqis, some of them living in 27 camps, and more than 600 prison inmates.

Iraq's election is being held early in concession to a demand by the youth-led protest movement that broke out in 2019 against a political class widely blamed for graft, unemployment and crumbling public services.

The movement was violently suppressed, and most of those who took part have decided to boycott the election, which they say is being held in an undemocratic climate.

In recent months, dozens of the movement's activists have fallen victim to a wave of assassinations and kidnappings that have been blamed on pro-Iranian groups.

Analysts say the same parties will continue to hold the balance of power after the vote.

More than 3,240 candidates are contesting for the 329 seats in parliament.

While you're here
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

The Buckingham Murders

Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

Director: Hansal Mehta

Rating: 4 / 5

Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'

Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.

Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.

"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.

"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.

"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
While you're here
Updated: October 08, 2021, 9:54 AM