Helen Ahmed

Sulaymaniyah — Female voters are striving to elect women representatives to the Iraqi Parliament, recognizing the importance of political representation in shaping laws that directly affect their daily lives. Having qualified women in parliament can help amend legislation and challenge laws that undermine women’s dignity or threaten their safety.

A group of female voters emphasized the need for women to head to the polls freely, without pressure, and vote for female candidates, so their voices can defend their rights.

“We want parliamentarians who defend our rights with dignity and justice”

Helen Salam spoke about the critical role female MPs play in defending women’s rights: “For a long time, women faced various forms of violence and discrimination due to a prevailing patriarchal mindset. Despite global progress, women’s freedom is still limited and hasn’t reached the level it deserves.”

She added, “We demand full rights through participation in elections and using available legal tools. We want female parliamentarians to ensure women’s rights and enable them to live freely and with dignity in a just society.”

She also stressed the need to amend laws to guarantee women’s rights through legal frameworks and prevent violations: “We vote for female candidates because they best understand our feelings and needs. They are capable of representing us and defending our rights in the Iraqi Parliament. Female MPs carry a real responsibility to protect and advance women’s rights so we can live freely and with dignity in a just society.”

“Our vote ensures legal and social justice”

Milan Ahmed highlighted the importance of voting for female candidates to secure women’s rights: “Female MPs in the Iraqi Parliament must work to amend personal status laws to achieve justice and equality for women. We cast our votes for female candidates because we believe in their ability to represent us and advocate for our demands in parliament.”

She added, “Laws must be seriously reviewed in parliament, and legislation affecting women’s rights must be reconsidered so that women are not subjected to injustice or violations. Our vote is our tool to claim our rights, and female parliamentarians bear a real responsibility to protect them.”

“Freedom to vote is a right, not an obligation”

Suhaila Rashid stressed the importance of women voting freely and independently, free from social or familial pressures: “Some women still vote under the influence or pressure of men. It is essential they liberate themselves from these constraints and seek their rights themselves. I vote according to my own will and will not allow anyone to impose their opinion on me.”

She emphasized that women should go to the polls freely, choosing representatives based on their convictions rather than family or political influence: “It’s not enough to stay home and criticize; we must participate and vote for those who defend our rights. Our vote must count and enable female candidates to reach parliament, achieve our demands, and empower us for a dignified, just life.”

“We want women who understand our reality and work for us in parliament”

Bahia Jamil Amin highlighted the importance of free and independent voting: “I do not vote under any pressure from my family. I have the right to choose freely the party or candidate I believe in. No one has the right to decide on my behalf.”

She stressed, “We must vote for female candidates so they can reach parliament and defend our rights. Women have been struggling since the 1990s in cities and mountains, and today they are capable of representing us and demanding our rights in parliament.”

In closing, she said, “We live under circumstances imposed by society that require deep understanding and real support. Therefore, female MPs must defend the rights of women and children and earnestly work to achieve their demands. We want women in parliament who understand our reality and empathize with our struggles. Their presence is not merely symbolic representation but a crucial step toward change, justice, and equality.