Apr 7, 2014

Baghdad residents recently woke up to find their neighborhoods filled with electoral ads for parliamentary candidates in the elections set to take place on April 30. Those ads, which vary in size, dominate public squares, parks, electricity poles and benches at bus stops. This has infuriated some residents who claim that the ads have defaced the Iraqi capital.

In central Baghdad’s Karada district, posters covered the square adorned with the magic lantern statue by the well-known sculptor Mohammed Ghani Hikmat. While in Liberation Square, which overlooks several ministries, the candidates not only displayed their pictures but also put up banners along the fence showing their photos and biographies.

The electoral campaigns of parliamentary candidates were launched on April 1. Some candidates put up their posters on March 31, ahead of the political blocs, to grab the visible spots.

The Independent Higher Electoral Commission bars candidates from using government and security departments, houses of worship, schools or public property to promote themselves. It also bars ads near polling stations and security checkpoints, but the candidates have not abided by these rules.

The election commission has mobile teams monitoring violations and has vowed to impose stiff penalties on violators.