Iraqi Islamic Party - Government Participation

Government Participation

The party initially supported the general elections of January 30, 2005 but pulled out of the national election one month before the vote saying violence made a fair election impossible. The party did participate in some elections for governorate level posts on the same day (see for instance Ninawa governorate council election, 2005 and Al-Anbar governorate council election, 2005).

The IIP led a large-scale public campaign urging Iraqis (especially the Sunnis) to vote against the constitution referendum in 2005. Two days before the referendum took place, the IIP announced its support for a "yes" vote, following a compromise with the members of the Iraqi Transitional Government whereby the newly elected Iraqi National Assembly would consider amendments to the constitution in 2006.

In the December 2005 election the IIP ran as part of the Iraqi Accord Front coalition, which won 44 seats, the most for any Sunni Arab coalition. The leader of Al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Mu'sab al-Zarqawi, condemned the IIP for their participation in the general election.

The party's platform for the elections included demanding a timetable for the withdrawal of the Multinational force in Iraq, opposition to federalism in Iraq, opposition to de-Baathification and promotion of Islamic values.

Following the elections the IAF joined the United Iraqi Alliance-led government of Nouri al-Maliki.