2025-11-08T13:45:30+00:00
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iraq’s army banned personnel from using mobile phones while
securing polling stations during the upcoming parliamentary elections, a
security source told Shafaq News on Saturday.
According to the source, the directive comes from Army Chief
General Abdel Amir Rashid Yarallah, who tasked the Military Intelligence and
Military Discipline Directorates with collecting phones. The measure is
intended to prevent misuse and ensure discipline among troops on election duty.
The restriction will stay in place until voting concludes.
The decision follows reports of soldiers posting videos
online that did not reflect official military guidance. Some clips showed
personnel jokingly “defeating the enemy,” represented by teachers, while
stationed at schools functioning as polling centers.
Iraq is finalizing preparations for the parliamentary
elections scheduled for November 11, 2025, with more than 21.4 million eligible
voters, including over 3 million in the Kurdistan Region. Today marks the start
of the electoral silence period, as campaigning officially comes to a halt.
Read more: Iraq’s 2025 Parliamentary Elections — What You Need to Know
