Iraqi lawyer Hussein al-Gharabi said that he left his hometown of Nasiriyah four months ago after receiving threats from an armed group because of his political activities.
As he travels now across Iraq, Al-Gharabi seeks to form a political party that he and some activists hope will challenge those in power whom the activists accuse of corruption and incompetence.
Al-Gharabi is one of dozens who fled Nasiriyah (the center of Dhi Qar governorate in the south of the country), the city that was at the forefront of anti-government protests in 2019, after receiving threats.
The demonstrators were wondering what would be an alternative to the existing political parties and therefore they began to establish this alternative.
Since October 2019, the capital Baghdad and other Iraqi cities in the center and south have witnessed protests that have lasted for more than a year and focused on fighting corruption and removing the ruling elite in Iraq, leaving more than 500 dead and thousands injured.
Activists said that they are still targeted by armed groups that they did not identify by name, especially in Nasiriyah, where protesters continue to organize rallies on a frequent basis, and are afraid of impeding their participation in the elections.
Muhannad Al-Mansoori, 34, an activist who also fled Nasiriya, said that they face the danger of weapons and armed factions.
He asked about the possibility of freely participating in elections in such circumstances.
Al-Gharabi says that his party will focus on inclusive patriotism and human rights (Reuters)
Change from within
Now activists, who refused to participate in a political system they say is false, are looking to change that system by electing them in Parliament.
Al-Gharabi wants his party, The National Home, to oppose the sectarian power-sharing system established after the US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
He says his party will focus on pan-nationalism and human rights in a country torn by internal violence and political oppression.
He added that he is currently carrying out procedures for registering the party in the Iraqi Elections Commission, at a cost of 36 million dinars (25,000 dollars), and that it has about two thousand members.
Al-Gharabi stated that he wanted to bring Iraqis from different backgrounds together around a new Iraqi national identity.
He hopes to mobilize the voices of the protesters and those who boycotted the last general elections in 2018 due to the alleged fraud, explaining that his party will only participate in fair elections monitored by the United Nations.
The sheikh believes that it is necessary to enter parliament even if they do not reach power (Reuters)
Alliances
The National Home Party refuses to form alliances with established political figures, and says it will discuss an alliance with the (Extension) party, also based in Nasiriyah, which was recently founded by the opposition and protest activist Alaa al-Rikabi after the elections.
Other parties are showing more openness to cooperating with secular politicians who believe they can help them advance reforms and root out corruption.
A few months ago, Muhammad al-Sheikh, 34, joined the "stage" party, a party that was co-founded by advisors to Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi.
The sheikh said it is necessary to enter parliament even if that means aligning with well-known politicians.
He added that there has been no real opposition in the Iraqi parliament since 2003, and that if they did not come to power, they intend to represent the opposition.