Local Iraqis travel to vote

EVERETT – Adil al-Rikabi will travel more than 4,500 miles over the next two weeks to add his vote to the millions being cast in the Jan. 30 elections in Iraq.

As al-Rikabi prepared to leave Sunday to register to vote in Los Angeles – the only West Coast polling place for Iraqis living in the United States – he said it’s a sacrifice he is glad to make.

“We’re ready to go anywhere to be a part of this,” al-Rikabi said. “This is history. It’s the first time we’re going to choose a government and experience democracy.”

Al-Rikabi is organizing a voting expedition to California that could include up to 20 Snohomish County refugees from Iraq. The group may rent a bus if there are enough people.

They plan to drive through the night to register Monday morning, then head back to Everett that afternoon. They’ll have to make another trip at the end of the month to cast ballots for members of a transitional national assembly, who will then draft a constitution. Polls in Los Angeles will be open Jan. 28-30.

Ahmed al-Mahana of Everett said he may go with al-Rikabi. He’s trying to find a way to spend a few days away from his job running a trucking company.

“This is such an important event in our lives as Iraqi people,” he said.

Traveling to Los Angeles twice just to vote may seem extraordinary to Americans, many of whom have ballots mailed to their home.

But to al-Mahana, driving to Los Angeles is a welcome inconvenience compared with the risk many will take when they arrive at the polls in Iraq on Jan. 30. Insurgents in heavily Sunni Muslim parts of Iraq have been distributing leaflets threatening to murder anyone who votes.

Al-Mahana, 43, said he recently talked to a Sunni friend in Iraq who told him he’s too frightened to vote.

“Everyone knows that if Sunnis don’t vote, they won’t accept the results,” al-Mahana said. And that could lead to further destabilization of the country, he said.

Like many other local Iraqis, al-Mahana will vote for the United Iraqi Alliance, the Shiite-dominated party that is expected to win.

The vast majority of the several hundred Iraqi refugees in Snohomish County are Shiite Muslims who fled Saddam Hussein’s regime after experiencing political persecution. More than 60 percent of Iraqis are Shiite. Hussein is a Sunni.

Like al-Mahana, Imad al-Turfy is convinced that, if the alliance wins, it would treat Sunnis and Kurds fairly. Some of the alliance candidates are Kurdish or Sunni, he said.

“We are one country, a mixture of people,” al-Turfy said. “If they win, everyone will have rights. They are very fair, honest people.”

Al-Turfy, 44, is upset there is no polling place closer to Everett. He and his wife won’t vote because they can’t leave their three children alone.

There are only four other U.S. cities where Iraqis can vote: Chicago, Detroit, Nashville and Washington, D.C.

“I don’t know why they don’t put an election box here in Washington state,” al-Turfy said. “I’m very angry.”

Reporter David Olson: 425-339-3452 or dolson@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

The Victorian home sits on Whidbey Island. (Alyse Young for The Washington Post)
Whidbey couple thought they found their dream home — then came the bats

The couple had no recourse after unknowingly buying a home infested with thousands of bats.

The Snohomish County Jail is pictured on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Report reveals cause of Everett man’s death in Snohomish County Jail

Terry Crusha was booked into the jail on May 17. He died three days later, part of a string of deaths there.

Boeing workers file into Angel of the Winds Arena to vote on the latest contract proposal from the company on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists prepare to go back to work after strike ends

After voting no twice, 59% of union members approved the latest contract.

Twede’s Cafe is pictured at the corner of Bendigo Boulevard and North Bend Way on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in North Bend, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Relive ‘Twin Peaks’ with cherry pie and damn fine coffee at Twede’s Cafe

The North Bend cafe, known as Double R Diner on the campy cult-classic, serves up nostalgia and a damn good breakfast.

From left to right, Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman. (Photos provided by the U.S. Navy)
Remains of Whidbey Island pilots to return this week

Lt. Cmdr Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman died in a crash on Oct. 15.

Everett
Everett men arrested in huge bust of Seattle drug ring

On Wednesday, investigators searched 31 locations, but suspects from Lynnwood and Edmonds remained at large, officials said.

“I Voted” stickers cover a table at the entrance to the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Margin narrows between Muzzall and St. Clair in WA Senate race

Meanwhile, a Lake Stevens school bond remained short of the 60% threshold in Wednesday’s results.

From left to right, Dave Larson and Sal Mungia.
WA Supreme Court race is incredibly close

Just 0.05% separated Sal Mungia and Dave Larson on Tuesday. More votes will come Wednesday.

Snow is visible along the top of Mount Pilchuck from bank of the Snohomish River near Rotary Park on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett initiative asks: Should the Snohomish River have legal rights?

Initiative 24-03 proposes legal standing to prevent environmental damage. Opponents say it’ll lead to unnecessary lawsuits.

Nora Xue, 24, fills out her ballot at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office on Tuesday in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
5 big takeaways from election night in Snohomish County

The most expensive legislative contest was close. School funding plans were failing. And incumbents were largely cruising.

Carli Brockman lets her daughter Carli, 2, help push her ballot into the ballot drop box on the Snohomish County Campus on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington’s capital gains tax survives repeal effort

Voters were opposing Initiative 2109 by 63.2% to 36.8%, as of Tuesday.

x
Edmonds woman, 82, accused of hate crime, disrupting Trump rally

The incident reportedly came Monday, the day before Donald Trump would again become president-elect.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.