Following his electoral exclusion, Head of Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union Joseph Sliwa demands Integrity Commission disclose his record

BAGHDAD — In the wake of his exclusion from the upcoming Iraqi elections by Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Head of the Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union (Huyodo d’Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA) Joseph Sliwa publicly demanded that the Integrity Commission disclose whether he has any corruption case filed against him.

In an official document addressed to the Commission’s head Muhammad Ali al-Lami, Sliwa stated that he had obtained an official document from the Criminal Evidence Directorate confirming his record is clear of any criminal convictions or judicial charges.

Sliwa asserted his right to know if there was another reason behind his exclusion.

The Electoral Commission had previously announced the exclusion of over 600 candidates, including 10 Christian candidates, from a total of 7,440 who had registered to run in the elections scheduled for next October.

The move has been described as the largest of its kind since 2003, triggering a widespread wave of political and public reactions.

Candidate exclusion is not new to the Iraqi electoral process. The IHEC has previously removed names for reasons such as criminal records, insufficient documentation, or ties to de-Baathification accountability measures.

However, the unprecedented scale and timing of the current exclusions, just months before the vote, have raised questions about the decision’s motivations.

Sliwa, a prominent political figure representing Iraq’s Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian community, argued that the exclusion strikes a blow to the principles of participation and diversity.

While the Electoral Commission remains silent on the specific details behind its decisions, excluded candidates, including Sliwa, are calling for greater transparency and the public disclosure of the reasons.

Their demands come amid growing belief that these exclusions are a political tool to marginalize certain minority groups or independent candidates.