Ibrahim justified the unusual arrangement by citing "social traditions" and tribal customs. "We come from a tribal background. You do not try to win by putting up your picture. You have a name, tribe, folks and relatives, and loved ones [who vote for you]," he told Rudaw. The contractor, who manages his wife's campaign office, insists the approach respects community values while allowing Sami to pursue public service.
However, Sami's absence extends far beyond campaign posters. Her husband and other male family members receive supporters and conduct all public-facing campaign activities on her behalf, effectively erasing her presence from her own political bid. This raises fundamental questions about how she could fulfill parliamentary duties if elected, given her apparent inability to engage directly with constituents during the campaign itself.
The situation has sparked criticism from civil society organizations concerned about the exploitation of women's quota seats. "From kitchen to parliament, it is very unfortunate. It will negatively impact the Kirkuk street," said Srud Mohammed, head of the Iraqi Hope Organization. "If she is my representative, she must stand, be able to speak. How can she advocate for my rights when I do not know who she is… This tells us she has been used."
Sami is competing for one of six women's quota seats in Kirkuk province, positions ostensibly designed to enhance female representation in Iraq's parliament. Yet her candidacy demonstrates how patriarchal structures can co-opt these mechanisms, using women as proxies while maintaining male control over political power. The daughter of Sheikh Sami Batushi, chief of the Batushi tribe in southern Kirkuk, Sami appears caught between family expectations and the public role she seeks.
This case exemplifies broader challenges facing women's rights across the Levant, where legal frameworks promoting gender equality often clash with deeply entrenched social conservatism. While countries in the region have implemented various quota systems to increase women's political participation, the effectiveness of such measures remains questionable when women cannot campaign independently or engage directly with voters.
Photo: The source