ISIS Editorial Frames Iraqi Elections as Apostasy and Calls Iraqis to Reject Democracy for Jihad
Source: Halummu
Executive Summary
An Islamic State aligned editorial circulated by Halummu argues that Iraq’s electoral process is inherently illegitimate and constitutes disbelief. The document claims that all Iraqi political factions are apostate proxies controlled by the United States and Iran, asserts that democracy is a form of polytheism that competes with God’s authority, and calls on Iraqis to abandon elections and political participation in favor of jihad and exclusive adherence to Islamic State ideology.
Analysis
The document portrays Iraq’s elections as religiously invalid and politically meaningless, arguing that no group truly “wins” because real authority belongs to foreign powers and not Iraqi institutions. Democracy is framed as a system of polytheism that divides society, corrupts religion, and enslaves people to multiple masters rather than God.
The editorial states that Iraq’s elections produced no real winners, asserting that all political blocs are apostates operating under a system imposed after the US invasion and the Paul Bremer era.
It claims Iraq is controlled by “true owners” in Washington and Tehran, while Iraqi parties only compete for limited authority to steal resources within foreign imposed limits.
The text describes three main political blocs, labeling Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish factions as internally divided, corrupt, and subservient to either American or Iranian interests.
Democracy and elections are explicitly labeled as shirk and taghut, with the text arguing that participation in them represents disbelief and obedience to the laws of nonbelievers rather than God.
The editorial contrasts democracy with tawhid by using a religious parable of a slave owned by many quarreling masters versus a slave owned by one master. Democracy is depicted as chaos, conflict, and humiliation, while monotheism under Islamic State rule is portrayed as unity, justice, and success.
The parable is used to argue that democratic systems inevitably produce division, hypocrisy, and social breakdown despite claims of national unity.
The text claims Sharia based governance alone brings stability and that all other systems are designed to destroy societies from within.
The document concludes with a direct appeal to the people of Iraq to reject elections, democracy, parties, and constitutions, urging them instead to follow the path of jihad and align themselves with Islamic State’s interpretation of Islam.
Iraqis are told to disbelieve in democracy and its supporters in order to avoid being among the “losers” in this world and the afterlife.
The call frames jihad as the only legitimate response to foreign domination and internal apostasy.
Sources
Halummu Telegram
