Iran to prevent citizens from visiting Iraq during election

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iranian authorities have decided to halt pilgrimages to holy Shia shrines on the day of the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections, May 12, and the day after. 

“Traveling is not allowed during these two days,” Murtadha Hosseini, the Acting Director of the Office of Hajj and Iranian Travels to Iraq, was quoted as saying by FARS News Agency.

Murtadha said traveling is forbidden for two days compared to the three days during the last elections. He added that the travelers who are in Iraq during the mentioned two days would have to stay for those days and return to Iran afterward.

“We have asked the embassy to look into the matter and lay out the best travel plans for the visitors,” Murtadha noted.

Iranian pilgrims are the most frequent among Shia visitors from other countries to the holy sites in Iraq, especially in Najaf and Karbala.

The Iraqi parliamentary election, which includes the Kurdistan Region, is scheduled to be held on May 12. Over 7,000 candidates representing different parties are competing to fill 329 seats in Parliament.

Since the start of the electoral campaign, some candidates have been the target of assassination attempts.

The Islamic State has also issued a warning claiming its militants would target polling stations across Iraq during the upcoming elections, warning Sunni Iraqis not to take part in the electoral process.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany