Islamic State declares all voters as targets in Iraqi elections

by **chouchou** Mon 23 Apr 2018, 4:06 am

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Post n°1

Islamic State declares all voters as targets in Iraqi elections

by chouchou Mon 23 Apr 2018, 4:06 am

Militant group says polling stations and whoever is inside them are a target in May elections.

Islamic State said it would attack polling stations in Iraq during parliamentary election next month and that anyone who participated in the vote would be considered an infidel.

In an audio message released late on Sunday, the militant group's spokesman accused Iraq's government of being a proxy of Iran and warned that anyone who runs or votes in the 12 May election would be targeted.

We warn you Sunnis of Iraq of these people [Shia] taking power. Polling stations, and whomever is inside them, are a target for us, so stay away from them," said Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajer.

Muhajer calls on IS members to target "every pillar of security, military, economy, media" for the Iraqi government, "every rotten and apostate tribal chief", "every fighting village", plus Sunni clerics who oppose the group, and teachers.

The statement comes weeks after IS affirmed loyalty to their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who is believed to have survived defeats in Syria and Iraq and the loss of his self-declared "caliphate".

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by **chouchou** Mon 23 Apr 2018, 4:07 am

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Post n°2

IS group vows to target polling stations as Iraq gears up for parl’t elections

by chouchou Mon 23 Apr 2018, 4:07 am

Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) – The Islamic State (IS) group has threatened to carry out terrorist attacks at polling stations in Iraq’s parliamentary elections, slated for May 12, a move that could hinder the country’e efforts to restore long-awaited stability following IS defeat.

In an audio message released on Monday, the group’s spokesman Abul Hassan al-Mohajer said, “All those who participate in the (parliamentary) elections, whether candidates or voters, are infidels and should be dead.”

The recording has not been verified yet, according to the Rawabet Center for Research and Strategic Studies.

Nearly 7,000 Iraqi candidates started on Sunday their campaigning for parliamentary elections, in which they compete for 329 seats.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has promised successful elections despite the challenges of stabilizing areas retaken from IS and returning millions of residents displaced by war to their homes.

In a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month, “emphasized the importance of the success of the upcoming elections to complete the building and construction phase,” a White House statement said.

The elections were originally scheduled for September 2017, but were delayed due to the country’s fight against Islamic State, which ended in December 2017 with the recapture of their remaining territories.

Iraq declared victory over Islamic State in December with the help of a US-led alliance, having retaken all the territory captured by the extremists in 2014 and 2015.

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by **chouchou** Mon 23 Apr 2018, 4:08 am

chouchou

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Post n°3

Islamic State threatens polling station attacks ahead of Iraq vote

by chouchou Mon 23 Apr 2018, 4:08 am

In an audio message released late on Sunday, the militant group’s spokesman accused Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government of being a proxy of Iran and warned that anyone who runs or votes in the May 12 election would be targeted. Iraqi officials have said polling stations will be well protected.

“We warn you Sunnis of Iraq of these people (Shi’ites) taking power. Polling stations are a target for us, so stay away from them,” said Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajer.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory in December over Islamic State, which seized a third of Iraq in 2014, but the hardline Sunni militants have reverted to insurgency tactics following the crumbling of their self-declared caliphate.

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