Speaking about the elections to be held in Iraq on October 10, Alia Nassif, member of the Iraqi Parliament, said that the Iraqi women should be ready for taking part in politics and there is a long-termed struggle ahead of them to take a high position for the three presidencies.

XOFRAN EL-RADÎ

Baghdad- Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Iraq on October 10, 2021. The elections decide the 328 members of the Council of Representatives who will in turn elect the Iraqi President and Prime Minister. According to the gender quota system in Iraq, at least 25 percent of representatives should be women.  Some women don’t believe in the gender quota and try to keep their seats at the Council of Representatives.

“It can be an advantage”

Alia Nassif was born in Baghdad in 1963 and she is now a member of the Iraqi parliament,  She believes that women have a great chance in the upcoming Iraqi elections. Talking about 20% gender quota, Alia Nassif said, “The quota can be a big advantage. Some political parties and blocs may try to use powerless women to increase their seats in parliament. But there are also women parliamentarians, who make their existence accepted and who work on the issues about women and society.”

“We should first win the trust of our people”

Alia Nassif indicated that she recently saw that the thoughts of the members of the parliament were about the demands of the people. “Sovereignty, water issue, rights violations committed by Turkey against Iraq increase concerns of the Kurdish people in Iraq. Iraqi people in Baghdad watch these rights violations with regret and reject them. If the candidates don’t believe in Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the people will not trust them,” Alia Nassif said.

“Women get strength from women”

Alia Nassif also talked about women’s participation in the upcoming elections. “Iraqi women get strength from female parliamentarians, particularly about women’s issues.  In addition, the offices of female parliamentarians become centers for women because women believe in women.”

A long-termed struggle

Alia Nassif mentioned the campaigns exploiting and discrediting women; “Iraqi women face different forms of violence. Women in politics face many forms of violence such as threats, hate speech, assault, and blackmail. But if they believe in themselves, follow their cause, they can do everything. That’s why I always resist.”

Alia Nassif said that the Iraqi women should be ready for taking part in politics and there is a long-termed struggle ahead of them to take a high position for the three presidencies.