Iraqi-American Christian candidate accuses Independent High Electoral Commission of bowing to militia pressure after disqualification

SAN DIEGO / BAGHDAD — Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian candidate Dunia Akram Shaba has accused Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of disqualifying her from the 11 November 2025, parliamentary elections under pressure from armed factions associated with Rayan al-Kildani that claim to represent Christians.

Rayan al-Kildani is the head of the Babylon Movement, an ostensibly Chaldean Catholic political party that claims to represent Iraq’s Christian community. However, the group has little to no support from the Christian community in Iraq.

In reality, the Babylon Movement is a fringe group that primarily represents al-Kildani’s personal interests, rather than any Christian community. It is pro-Iran and serves as a proxy for the Shia Arab-dominated Badr Organization. Its affiliated militia, the Babylon Brigades (also known as Brigade 50), was founded by the Iranian-controlled Kata’ib al-Imam Ali. Despite presenting itself as a Chaldean Catholic and Christian force, the group is mainly composed of Shia Arab and Shabak soldiers.

Shaba, who resides in the United States but holds Iraqi citizenship, said she was excluded last week but only learned of the decision two days later via a WhatsApp message. Because she lives abroad and Iraqi election law requires appeals to be filed within three days, her lawyer was unable to meet the deadline to contest the ruling.

According to Shaba, the stated reason for her disqualification was an official complaint filed against her by a Christian individual from a Baghdad church — allegedly at the instigation of these armed factions. She rejects the complaint, insists she has done nothing unlawful, and maintains that the IHEC has no valid legal grounds for its decision.

She believes her case is part of a broader pattern, noting that within a single week, five Christian candidates were barred from participating in the elections. How come? She believes the Independent High Electoral Commission is pressured by armed factions claiming to be Christian factions.

🌸كلش أحبها لـ الشرقية نيوز من تساهم بفضح وتعرية واقع الميليشيات

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⛔️المرشحة للانتخابات العراقية “دنيا أكرم شابا”:
♦️فصائل مسيحية خارجة على القانون ومتهمة بالقتل والتهجير تدخلت لدى المفوضية وتسببت باستبعادي من الانتخابات.

Iraqi election candidate Dunya… pic.twitter.com/ZXPzHTOEH1

— Raad Hashim (@raad_arabi) August 8, 2025

She described these groups as outlaws who do not represent the Christians of Iraq, accusing them of carrying illegal weapons, flaunting wealth from unknown sources, and using their influence to dominate Christian towns and villages in the Nineveh Plain. She emphasized that the majority of Chaldeans–Syriacs–Assyrians reject these factions.

Last week, the IHEC also disqualified three Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian candidates from the parliamentary race, including Issam Behnam Matti, former district mayor of Hamdaniya. Matti was replaced earlier this year by a candidate affiliated with al-Kildani.