Iraq suspends election ban on 500 ex-Baathists

An Iraqi appeal court has temporarily lift a ban on the participation in elections of a group of candidates with suspected ties to former Saddam Hussein’s Baath party, allowing them to run for the country’s upcoming vote.

Hamida al-Hussaini, an electoral commission official, announced on Wednesday that the appeal court suspended the ban on about 500 candidates and allow them to run for the March 7 parliamentary elections, AP reported.

“They have the right to run in the elections,” al-Husseini said.

“The appeal court will look at their file after the elections,” and if they have links to Baathists they will be prevented from assuming parliament seats.

Last month, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) blacklisted 511 candidates over links to former dictator, Saddam Hussein’s political and military apparatus.

The US has been pushing for the return of ex-Baath members to Iraq’s political arena. While Washington argues that such a move will boost the reconciliation process in the war-torn country, some analysts believe the step is aimed at undermining those politicians whose views are in conflict with US policies.