Iraqi voters in UAE put faith in the future
Atheel Amer lifted his inked thumb proudly as his wife took a photograph of him after casting his ballot. The 48-yearold Iraqi architect had just voted for incumbent Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi at a polling booth at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
“I am from Mosul and, as we have seen so far, he is a powerful man who works for the welfare of Iraq – not like the ones who came before him,” he said.
In this parliamentary election, Iraqis are voting to rebuild their country’s economy and infrastructure as well as its continued recovery from sectarian violence and the battle against ISIS.
Iraqis living in the UAE were required to present their official Iraqi documents along with an Emirates ID that lists “Iraq” under their nationality.
It is the first national election since ISIS was driven out of the country. Mr Abadi, the present prime minister, is running for re-election relying largely on his success in defeating ISIS militants. His greatest accomplishment, Mr Amer agreed, was defeating the extremists in the northern city of Mosul.
“He did it in a record time and with minimal losses,” said his Sudanese wife Safa Salah, 33, who also an architect.
Mr Amer moved to Abu Dhabi in 2002 after becoming tired
of the turmoil sparked by the United States invasion and its aftermath.
“The security was bad, there were roadblocks and the situation was tense,” he said. “But when ISIS was there it was the worst – even worse than when the US troops were there.”
Many of his friends are excited to be voting, although the turnout at the voting centre set up by the Iraqi government at Adnec was low on Thursday.
Friday was expected to be busier, some said.
Mr Amer voted for Ayad Allawi, Iraq’s former vice president, in the past but changed his mind this time around.
“So far Abadi has been quite proactive, I hope he will not fail me”.
Hassan Abdulhameed and his wife Nour Hassan told The National they had chosen to vote for new candidates.
“Because only by introducing new competent individuals, positive change is bound to happen,” said Mr Abdulhameed, 37, a mechanical engineer.
“They are well educated and have a rich history of helping people, so hopefully they will stay the same if they win,” he said.
Mr Abdulhameed moved to the UAE in 2006, and said the situation in Iraq has improved since then.
“People were desperate for some security; there has been a lot of improvement, but still the services there are not encouraging for one to return,” he said.
Dr Shaker Al Nouri, a professor at Al Jazeera University, said: “I am voting for my country’s future not for a specific candidate or party. In this year’s elections, economic hardship surpasses sectarian lines and is at the forefront of voters’ concerns”.
“I admire one of the candidates, Haider Al Abadi, as he freed the country from ISIS. There is a glimpse of hope after defeating ISIS”, Dr Al Nouri said.
“The sectarian language has disappeared. Voters are focusing more on anti-corruption, providing jobs and services, and improving the economy. Iraqis are fed up with the current situation in Iraq. Political parties do not focus on Iraqi citizens,” said Dr Al Nouri, who left Iraq in 1977.
A 44-year-old businessman who declined to be named said he voted for the former Iraqi defence minister, Dr Khalid Al Obaidi, who had served in Mr Abadi’s government until two years ago and who represents the party Itihad Al Quwa Al Wataniyah.
“I see him as the right man in the right place,” he said
“I hope circumstances will improve, why else would we show up for elections?”
Show up they did. Dozens of Iraqi expatriates thronged polling stations at Al Reemal Castle to cast their votes on Thursday for a new parliament amid cautious optimism.
All of the voters who spoke to
The National said they did not vote along sectarian lines and several stressed the need for a secular government.
Although Al Abadi is a Shiite, like every prime minister since Saddam Hussein was toppled, it still matters in Iraqi politics whether the candidate is a Shiite or Sunni, Kurdish or Arab.
Ms Sara Ayoub, 25, argued that Kurds and all Iraqi voices must be heard in parliament.
“We have suffered a lot in the past and we want to get our normal rights,” Ms Ayoub said.
“I hope that no corruption takes over the voting process. I look forward to Iraq sticking to its constitution, becoming a safer place, and adjusting the current messy situation.”
Layla Rakan, 31, a housewife, expressed concern about the sectarianism that has plagued her country.
“I am here to vote for Mosul and hope to rebuild the country,” Mrs Rakan said. “In the past, there was no discrimination among religious groups. No one would ask us whether we are Shia, Sunni or whatever.
“I am concerned about the young generation. What’s happening in Iraq must change for them,” she said.
Aram Aziz, assistant manager for the Iraqi election commission, said purple dye was used to ensure no one could vote more than once.
“It is mandatory for every voter to place his thumb in a oneweek permanent ink, so they don’t come back the next day and claim they have not voted – the ink cannot even be washed out with Clorox.”
Mr Aziz said he was expecting an influx of people on Friday.
The elections in Dubai and Abu Dhabi take place from 7am to 6pm.
Many voters stressed the need for a secular government and said they did not vote on sectarian lines, but wanted to see change