KDP Candidate Defies Election Rules, Campaigns in Mosque

Halgurd Sheikh Najib, KDP candidate and mayor of Soran, has come under fire for holding an election campaign in a mosque, violating the High Election Commission’s regulations. Critics accuse the KDP of double standards, as religious figures supporting opposition parties face harsh penalties, including imprisonment and dismissal.

Halgurd Sheikh Najib, a Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) candidate and mayor of Soran, has sparked controversy by using a mosque as a venue for his election campaign, despite clear guidelines from the High Election Commission prohibiting the use of religious spaces for political purposes. This incident highlights a concerning double standard within the KDP’s administration. While the party appears to disregard these rules for its own advantage, it simultaneously enforces strict limitations on religious figures who might support opposing parties. Religious teachers who express dissent or show support for opposition candidates face severe repercussions, including imprisonment, public humiliation such as having their beards burned, or outright dismissal from their positions. This flagrant violation of both electoral guidelines and basic freedoms raises serious questions about the integrity and fairness of the electoral process under the KDP’s leadership.