Hawzah News Agency (Najaf, Iraq) – In a statement released on Friday, March 9, senior Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani asked Iraqi nation to avoid sectarian bias in upcoming parliamentary elections in the country in order to vote for the qualified candidates with a non-partisan look.

The statements reads that the upcoming elections in May is of great significance in deciding the future of Iraq and those who do not take part in this election are actually letting others decide their future for them.

"No one can deny this fact that Iraq is going through tough economic and political times." the statement continues.

Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani stressed in his statement that people must know about the background and qualities of candidates before they vote for them.

The revered Shia source of emulation asked Iraqi nation to avoid sectarian bias in upcoming parliamentary elections in the country in order to vote for the most qualified candidates with a non-partisan look.

It must be noted that upcoming parliamentary elections are going to be held in May, 2018.

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