Sovereignty Alliance: Political motives behind Kirkuk candidate removal
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Tuesday, Iraq’s Sovereignty Alliance (al-Siyada) denounced the disqualification of Arab Alliance member Khalid al-Mafraji from the November 11 parliamentary elections as "politically motivated" and legally unfounded.
Read more: Elections on schedule, legitimacy in doubt: Iraq heads toward November vote.
Al-Mafraji, a former lawmaker representing Kirkuk, was recently barred from running, though authorities have not disclosed the legal grounds for his exclusion. The move has sparked backlash among Sunni political groups, particularly in northern Iraq.
In a statement, Sovereignty Alliance, led by Khamis al-Khanjar, said the decision by the Judicial Electoral Commission “sets a dangerous precedent” and undermines public confidence in the electoral process.
“The disqualification of peaceful national figures while allowing armed leaders to compete freely reflects blatant hypocrisy,” the alliance added, warning that such measures "threaten the credibility of Iraq’s democratic system."
Once Iraq’s largest Sunni bloc after 2021, Al-Siyada later separated from Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi’s camp. It retains influence in al-Anbar and Saladin, emphasizing "Sunni rights within a unified Iraqi framework."
Read more: Iraq’s 2025 Parliamentary Elections — What You Need to Know.
