Open threats by KDP-leader in Sersink, Dohuk

Six of our supporters informed us today at the Change List that they had been openly threatened by Fahmi Selman, leader of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) section 18, Sersink. Three of them wanted us to tell the story and publish their names. Sobhi Hassan Mustafa, known as Sobhi Boti, Lazgin Selman and Mohammed Saleh from Khadish, Sersink, stated that Fahmi Selman told them to renounce their support for the Change List. If they did not, they should expect an unpleasent visit by the KDP the 26 of July. He also promised Sobhi Boti a "special treatment".

Sobhi, Lazgin and Mohammed declare that "no threats can make us stop supporting the Change List. We will continue to be envolved in the campaign". They were upset and indignant over the threats but wanted everyone to know that they would not give in for any threats.

Low-key Change List campaigning

The Change List have no other option than to act low-key and continue to spread its message in a very quiet way. To receive a permit for a public meeting is out of the question, our posters are being torn down, and people are afraid to approach our campaign office. Halima A. Othman, Senior Architect Engineer, Duhok, listed on the Change List and Idris Sheranshi, campaign manager and coordinator for the Change List in Zakho, are trying to keep the election campaign going on despite the obstructions of the Kurdistani List.

Yesterday we spent the whole day paying villages and other areas around Zakho a visit and talked to people door-to-door.
People were mainly positive to our arguments but were reluctant to say anything about their voting preferences openly. The fear for consequences is widely spread among the people. All we could do is to tell people to follow their hearts and their conscience on election day.

As we see it here in the Behdinan areas is that although we have our difficulties in campaigning freely we are full of hope. The Kurdistani List are actually doing most of the campaigning for the Change List. They are showing the people that we are right in what we say about them.


Idris Sheranshi and Halima A. Othman


Idris Sheranshi

Will Change List voters burn in hell?

In Zakho the Kurdistan Democratic Party has a firm grip on influential people.Today, Friday, the religious council head Mullah Ahmed Shernaki had an unusual message in his sermon. He told the several hundreds of listeners at the Haji Ibrahim mosque that he who lays his vote for others than the Kurdistani List on the election day are devils and will burn in hell. Mullah Ahmed Shernaki has clearly been rewarded in advance for these words. Anyone who is not blind can see his new Land Cruiser Prado on the streets...

Sad to say, this makes it clear that a fair election process in the Behdinan areas is not possible. Bribes, threats, harassment, obstruction, persecution, spreading of false information, namecalling, provocations to conflict, police brutality et cetera is not enough for the Kurdistani List. Now they use the name of Allah to scare people into submission.