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Preliminary turnout in Iraqi elections count lowest rate of participation

The Gulf Today reported, the electoral commission announced on Monday, preliminary turnout in the Iraqi elections was 41 percent, suggesting a lower rate of participation than in the last vote in 2018.
The Gulf Today said, turnout figures have showed many citizens boycotted Iraq's parliamentary election, held a year early to appease protestors, in an oil-rich country riddled by corruption and beholden to armed factions.
The commission said, the figure is based on the results from 94 per cent of polling stations. It added that more than nine million people had voted. Many of Iraq's 25 million eligible voters were expected to have boycotted the polls amid deep distrust in the country's political class.
In what was the fifth election since the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein with the promise of bringing freedom and democracy, preliminary turnout was just 41 per cent, the electoral committee said.

According to the Gulf Today, few voters expressed enthusiasm among those who queued in the fifth election since the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted dictator Saddam Hussein with the promise of bringing freedom and democracy.
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"We want change," said Mohammed, 23, who declined to give his surname.
"I have a degree in Arabic literature but I clean toilets in a restaurant -- it's humiliating."
Housewife Jimand Khalil, 37, said she hoped her vote would help "to change the current leaders who are incompetent".
The election was held under tight security in a country where key parliamentary blocs have armed factions and Islamic State group jihadists have launched deadly suicide attacks this year.
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The election was held a year early in response to the youth-led protest movement that broke out in October 2019 in Baghdad and swept across much of the country.
Tens of thousands flooded the streets to vent their rage at corruption, unemployment and other problems. Hundreds lost their lives in protest-related violence.
Even as the protests fizzled out as coronavirus hit, more activists were killed, kidnapped or intimidated, with accusations that pro-Iran armed groups, many of them represented in parliament, were behind the violence.
Iraq by convention has had a Shiite Muslim prime minister, a Sunni parliament speaker and a Kurdish president.
Source: gulftoday
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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