NCRI – In a press release issued on Friday, Mr. Struan Stevenson, President of the European Parliamentʹs Delegation for relations with Iraq, called on the U.S. government and the United Nations to prevent the exclusion of Dr. Mutlak and other political figures from the parliamentary elections in Iraq.
Below is the text of statement by Mr. Struan Stevenson, President of the European Parliamentʹs Delegation for relations with Iraq:
Exclusion of Salih Mutlak from elections in Iraq undermines legitimacy of elections
The exclusion of Dr. Salih Mutlak, leader of the National Dialogue Front, and a number of other political personalities from upcoming parliamentary elections in Iraq is a haunting development, reminding us of election shams held under fascist regimes such as the one in neighbouring Iran.
Dr. Mutlak has been part of the political process in Iraq over the past six years and has been a member of the committee responsible for the Iraqi constitution.
The true reason for his exclusion is his uncompromising position against the Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq. The essence of this decision becomes more evident as it coincided with a visit to Iraq by the Iranian Foreign Minister Motaki.
I strongly advise the Iraqi government not to allow the Iranian regime to impose its policies upon the election process in Iraq that would discredit the legitimacy of the elections. The model of elections in Iran must not be exported to Iraq. Millions of Iranians have been challenging the Iranian regime’s election charade.
I express my full support for Dr. Mutlak’s democratic right to participate in elections in Iraq and will closely follow up this matter in the European Parliament and will call on the European Union, the U.S. government and the United Nations to condemn this move and prevent the exclusion of Dr. Mutlak and other political figures from the parliamentary elections in Iraq.
Struan Stevenson, MEP
President of the European Parliamentʹs Delegation for relations with Iraq
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Brussels
