Iraqi Christians pessimistic after vote

Luke Randall  |  World
Date posted:  20 Dec 2025
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Iraqi Christians pessimistic after vote

An Iraqi voter. The purple dye reduces double-voting fraud. Photo: Wiki

Many Christians boycotted recent elections in Iraq due to the hijacking of their minority representation seats by a hostile party. Some are believed to have given up on the electoral process altogether, while others no longer have the right to vote in the Muslim-majority country.

Due to their minority status, five of the Iraqi parliament’s 329 seats are reserved for Christians, but have been hijacked in the past by the Babylon Movement, a Chaldean Catholic party which purports to stand up for believers. But it is said by many Christians to be effectively a militant Shia Muslim party supported by Iran.

A member of Open Doors’ Middle East team told en that the movement has used an election loophole over many years to ensure non-believers vote for them in Christian seats, and they are also believed to have forced members of their militias to vote for them and paid others for support.

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