Video of youth kissing Iraqi election poster nearly causes tribal feud

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - After a video of a young man kissing the campaign poster of a female candidate raised fears of a feud between two tribes in Iraq's southern city of Najaf, tribal leaders announced on Saturday that the dispute had been averted with an apology and a large cash settlement.

In the agreement, the al-Majatim tribe of the 20-year-old male featured in the video agreed to pay 100 million IQD ($84,000) to the Bouzeib tribe, to which the candidate belongs.

"In a reconciliation session on Friday, an agreement was made between the two tribes following the reckless behavior by a member of the Al-Majatim tribe toward the image of the candidate Hadba al-Hasnawi," read a joint tribal statement released to the press.

The video showing the young man kissing, caressing, and speaking suggestively about the poster was viewed by many social media users in Najaf, and was said to have been a threat to the honor of al-Hasnawi and, as a result, her entire tribe as well.

In addition to the agreement to pay the monetary settlement, a public apology by representatives of the al-Majatim tribe was also made in front of members of both clans.

The Iraqi parliamentary election is scheduled to be held on May 12. A total of 6,904 candidates representing multiple parties are competing to fill 329 parliamentary seats. Campaigning for the national election kicked off in Iraq on Saturday and in the Kurdistan Region on Sunday.

Several female candidates in multiple parties have been targeted by online smear campaigns, including the circulation of derogatory videos and comments.

Member of parliament Antithar Al Shammari was dropped as a candidate from the party of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Thursday after a sex video in which she purportedly appeared was circulated online.