Iraq's latest non-sectarian, youth-led movement is seeking help to challenge country's political elite in elections

Iraq's new non-sectarian, youth-led activist movement is seeking donations to fund a run in national elections in a bid to challenge the country's political elite. 

National House was founded at the start of this year by activists from the province of Dhi Qar, southern Iraq, and seeks to represent the demands of demonstrators across the country. 

They have established a campaign on social media calling for funding to support their bid to register with the Independent High Electoral Commission. 

The campaign was supported by activists from across Iraq but most notably from Baghdad, where demonstrators have emphasised the need in Iraq for an independent youth-led force that is not linked to traditional political figures. 

Writing on Facebook, one of the National House's founders, Hussein Gharabi, highlighted the significance of the current period, needing to secure 25 million dinars ($17,143) to enter the June elections.

"This amount has not yet been secured, due to the incomplete organisational structures of the National House in our beloved governorates," he wrote. 

"Therefore, all loved ones who believe in the National House project, and through the representatives of the National House in the governorates, should contribute what they can to complete this national dream. Preserve the integrity of the project and do not be subject to bargaining," he added.

Speaking to The New Arab's sister publication, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Gharabi explained that the National House does not have the same access to funds as existing political parties due to its independence. 

"The National House does not depend on any political funding and only has thoughts and minds that believe in peaceful change," Gharabi said.

"Therefore, we are currently facing a financial problem related to the latest procedures for registering the new political entity with the Iraqi state departments."

Read more: The Iraq Report: Human rights violations as protests rage in Iraqi Kurdistan

The National House was born after October anti-government protests that gripped the country, with demands for better access to basic services, employment opportunities, and an end to corruption. 

The National House movement secured the support of Bahaa Al-Saray, whose brother was killed during the October protests and become one of the most prominent casualties of the crackdown on activists.

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