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Kurdistan Minorities Demand Expanded Representation and Veto Rights in Parliament

Aydin Maruf, Kurdistan Region’s Minister of State for Minority Affairs, announced significant demands from ethnic and religious communities during a news conference following a meeting with civil society organizations.

Maruf revealed that these communities are seeking the right to veto in the new parliamentary session, amendments to the election law, and an increase in quota seats from five to 15.

“Some communities will participate in the elections outside the quota system, while others have boycotted the elections in protest against the current system and the geographical distribution of the seats,” Maruf stated. He criticized the existing allocation of five quota seats as inadequate and the geographical division as flawed due to a lack of prior consultation with the communities.

As the Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Maruf committed to closely monitoring the situation of ethnic and religious communities. “Communities participate in elections as ethnic groups within the Kurdistan Region but on a religious basis in Iraq. Today’s meeting was consultative, and we will continue to hold such meetings to gather opinions and suggestions. These will be compiled into a report to be submitted to relevant parties to better support the communities in the Kurdistan Region,” he said.

Maruf emphasized the Kurdistan Regional Government’s full support for community rights, highlighting that the government’s efforts have fostered a high level of unity and coexistence among the region’s communities.

The minister noted that all community activists agreed that the sixth session of the Kurdistan parliamentary elections should proceed on schedule, with the participation of all political parties and communities.

He confirmed there is a push to amend the electoral law to increase the number of quota seats for communities from five to 15, with 11 seats based on ethnicity and four based on religion. This proposed increase aims to ensure representation for religious components such as the Yazidis and Shabaks in the Kurdistan Region’s parliament.

Maruf also criticized the quota system in the Iraqi Parliament, advocating for community representatives to have veto rights in the upcoming session to better safeguard their interests.

He urged all political parties to avoid interfering in community rights and affairs, stressing that communities seek to be a positive force in strengthening relationships rather than supporting one party against another.

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