Bin Arshid: Tuesday’s Municipals May Be Rigged

Bin Arshid: Tuesday’s Municipals May Be Rigged

Jordanian Municipal elections will kick off on Tuesday July, 31st, 2007. the Jordanians will go to polls to pick their representatives in various municipalities nationwide.
 
The Islamic Action Front Party (IAF), the political wing of the Islamic movement in Jordan, has declared running foe these municipal elections. The IAF announced a list of 30 candidates, including six candidates for Municipal head.
 
Zaki Bin Arshid said, the Secretary-General of Islamic Action Front Party in Jordan (an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood), told Ikhwanweb:” Many violations have been already committed. We have listed these legal violations to be declared in a press conference held on Monday, July, 30th, 2007″.
 
Asked about his expectations towards Tuesday”s elections, Bin Arshid said:” Tomorrow”s elections will be rigged. They won”t be held in a democratic way. This is based on many indications which we have witnessed.
 
“We have been informed that militaries and soldiers will be forced into casting their votes for some rival candidates .”
 
Asked about the reports that the Islamic movement has hinted at boycotting the municipal elections, Bin Arshid said:” The Islamic movement hasn”t made such a hint. Some inside the movement have expressed certain attitudes that refer to withdrawal, but the movement will go ahead and run for the elections .”
 
Bin Arshid pointed out that the party has submitted three complaints to the Prime Minister, and addressed concerned ministers, officials and even administrative governors, but in vain. They didn”t pay any attention to our demands.”
“Many harassments and pressures have been committed against our candidates, members and sympathizers. Members of the IAF election committee were beaten. Seven activists were detained more than seventy days ago, ” said the IAF leader.
 
Zaki Bin Arshid concludes, saying:” We have an agenda and a package of targets which we seek to achieve in the elections as a whole issue. We don”t seek a post. We actually want to serve people, contact them and expose the ugly face of the claimed democracy. All these can be achieved through participating in, not boycotting, the elections.