The Ein Network for Election and Democracy Monitoring organized an awareness forum dedicated to tribal sheikhs and religious leaders in Maysan Governorate on August 24, 2025, as part of the activities of the project “Democracy and Transparency: Empowering Civic Participation and Freedom of Media,” in partnership with Tammuz and Shams Networks, with the support of the European Union, and in cooperation with the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA).

The forum witnessed wide participation from different areas of the governorate, where discussions focused on the phenomenon of vote-buying in elections and how this act is prohibited religiously and rejected socially and ethically. The discussions also addressed the dangers of using threats and intimidation, which are considered undesirable practices in Iraqi society and negatively affect the integrity of the electoral process. Participants also discussed the pivotal role that tribal sheikhs and religious leaders can play in confronting these negative practices by raising community awareness about the need to uphold genuine values and exercise the right to vote with responsibility and transparency.

Attendees affirmed that religious and tribal values call for choosing candidates based on competence and integrity rather than material interests or social pressure. They also emphasized the importance of relying on credible sources of information to counter rumors that may affect voters’ awareness and mislead public opinion. The forum further highlighted the essential role of media in conveying facts objectively and in strengthening citizens’ trust in the democratic process.

At the conclusion of the event, participants agreed on the importance of continuing to hold such forums across all Iraqi governorates, given their direct impact on raising community awareness and encouraging meaningful participation in elections, thereby contributing to building a fair and transparent democratic process that reflects the true will of the Iraqi voter.