Iraq’s election campaign kicked off amid controversy following the replacement of posters of dead fighters with those of candidates. Party aides and volunteers across the country on Saturday substituted the images of men killed in the battle against ISIS with those of nominees. On Sunday morning angry residents took to social media to vent their frustrations. “Those who do not respect our martyrs, do not respect life, the candidates in the elections are the dirtiest,” Ahmed Al Sami, a photographer from Baghdad wrote on Twitter.
Residents were referring to the thousands of government forces and allied militiamen killed in the fight against ISIS after the insurgents launched a sweeping offensive in 2014.
Others referred to some electoral candidates as “thieves” over allegations of corruption.
Voting on 12 May will mark Iraq’s fourth parliamentary and provincial assembly elections since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled former dictator Saddam Hussein.
Full Article: Iraq kicks off election campaign amidst public anger – The National.
