On June 29, the EIN Network for Election Monitoring organized an awareness forum in the city of Mosul, targeting religious leaders, tribal sheikhs, and community dignitaries.
This event was held as part of the project "Democracy and Transparency, Civil Participation, and Freedom of the Media," funded by the European Union, in partnership with the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), and in cooperation with Shams and Tammuz election monitoring networks.
The forum aimed to enhance the role of religious and community leaders in spreading electoral awareness and to highlight the importance of active participation in the upcoming electoral process, whether through updating voter registration or contributing to general education on the legal and constitutional phases of the elections.
Key discussion points addressed during the forum included:
• The role of religious leaders in encouraging electoral participation through Friday sermons and religious lessons, emphasizing that elections are a national and moral duty.
• The importance of tribal discourse in building trust with citizens and the need to steer tribes toward supporting civil peace and resorting to the ballot box instead of conflict.
• The community’s role in monitoring elections and the importance of raising awareness about integrity, rejecting vote-buying, and avoiding negative political influence.
• The significance of involving women and youth in the electoral process, especially in rural and remote areas.
• Mechanisms for electoral appeals and ways to educate citizens about them, ensuring they are accessible and clearly understood.
• Countering hate speech and misinformation that spread during the election period through social media platforms, mosques, and tribal gatherings.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying efforts within their communities through dialogue and guidance, emphasizing that broad participation in the elections represents an essential step toward promoting stability and democracy in Iraq.
