Top Sunni and Shia authorities in Iraq on Tuesday (April 29th) urged people to participate in the parliamentary elections, with polls scheduled to open to the public on Wednesday.
"Election is a national duty for every Iraqi who desires to see change, security and prosperity and to overcome all problems in the country," Mufti of Iraq Sheikh Rafi al-Rifai said in a statement.
"Therefore, it is a religious and moral duty to go to the ballot boxes and use the chance as a civilised way to change and express opinion," he said.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani also called on Iraqis to take part in the elections.
"All Iraqis must seize this chance to elect the right person in the right place to defeat terrorism, establish security and prosperity in an independent, pluralistic and free Iraq where only law and order have authority and influence," said al-Sistani's Karbala representative Ahmed al-Safi.
Iraqi Iftaa Authority head Sheikh Mahdi al-Sumaidaie told Al-Shorfa that violence and terrorism cannot make change happen and will not bring any good to the country.
"Election and democracy in the new Iraq is the only way to solve security, political and economic problems," he said.
"Election is like a popular war and strong public rejection of al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups," he added.
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