Athra Alliance rejects manipulation of quota seats, urges active participation in Iraqi provincial elections

ANKAWA, Iraq — The Athra Alliance in Iraq recently convened in Ankawa to address key issues in the political landscape in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), particularly in anticipation of the upcoming provincial council elections on 18 December. The Alliance unequivocally rejected attempts to exploit the quota seats designated for the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people in the Kurdistan Regional Parliament. Typically dominated by the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party, these seats are now subject to potential distribution based on political quotas.

The Athra Alliance commended a statement from Masoud Barzani’s office, emphasizing the importance of national components in the region determining their own fate without external imposition. It stressed the need to safeguard these rights against political interests and unfair treatment.

Participants urged regional political forces to translate these principles into electoral law, ensuring the right of the people to elect representatives without political interference. The Alliance called for a transparent process, free from the inclusion of votes from outside the component, to prevent the confiscation of quota seats.

Discussions also covered challenges faced by the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people, particularly in Nineveh Plains where political pressures persist and the government falls short of fulfilling its obligations. The region is still grappling with the aftermath of Islamic State (ISIS)’s terrorist invasion, forced displacement, and the tragic Baghdede wedding hall fire.