Al-Qaralusi: Undoubtedly, the decision by the Iraqi Fayli Kurdish Party to vote for the Kurdistan Coalition list, which is candidate list No. 730, will leave a positive imprint on the orientation and opinions of the Fayli community. The suffering of this community is an inseparable part of the cause of the people of Kurdistan in general. I believe that this decision will have a positive impact because the ambitions of this community -- as was mentioned in a note presented at their recent meeting -- cannot be completely fulfilled unless they are supported by the Kurdistan Coalition list, whatever the importance and social position enjoyed by this community inside and outside Iraq.
This is in addition to the religious specifics of the community, as it follows the Shi’ite branch [of Islam], and its geographic specifics, as the community is resident outside the administration of Kurdistan region. I believe that this step is good and will be beneficial for all Faylis because they can see that their community, as I have mentioned, cannot assert its rights in a realistic and effective way if it were outside the Kurdistan Coalition list. But they will achieve their goals because the Kurdistan Coalition list will have a strong and influential presence in the next parliament.
RFI: The party has called on all Fayli Kurds in Baghdad, Al-Kut, Al-Amarah, Khanaqin, Mandali, Zurbatiya, Badra, Al-Nu’maniyah, Al-Hillah, Karbala, Al-Najaf, Al-Basrah, and elsewhere in Iraq, to vote for the [Kurdistan] Coalition List. In your opinion, will this call be answered?
Al-Qaralusi: I believe that the voice of this party will be heard among the Fayli Kurds who reside in the mentioned areas. In the previous elections, this group has decided to enter the election within the ranks of the [Shi'ite list] United Iraqi Alliance but it did not achieve its goals and the alliance did not satisfy its wishes in anything worth mentioning. Therefore we can observe now that Fayli Kurds in various areas have laid their hopes in the Kurdistan Coalition list, in which they have found points of common interest.
(Translated by Petr Kubalek)
RFE/RL's coverage, background, and analysis of Iraq's December 15, 2005, legislative elections.