Voters in Iraq are going to the polls on May 12th. With the general elections on the agenda, the Supreme Election Board got ready for the campaign. Banners were swiftly replaced.

From midnight onwards, candidates placed their banners on top of those portraying the people who died in the struggle with DAESH and were declared "martyrs".

Since 2014, thousands of Iraqi soldiers, police and militia have been killed in combat in the fight with DAESH. The photographs, banners, posters of the dead were covered.

Speaking to AFP, 50 years old Baghdad resident Settler Turk, said: “At night, when it was pitch dark, they took down the photos of the martyrs and replaced them with those of the thieves”, reflecting the view of many Iraqis who consider politicians "thieves".

Social networks, too, witnessed a harsh response to the candidates move to put up their posters. Among the many posts, that of Laith el Shommari who said that this “behaviour was an insult to those who sacrificed their life”.

On Facebook, there were calls to burn banners and several insults were directed to the candidates.

Nearly 7 thousands candidates run in the elections to occupy the 329 seats in parliament. 

The election campaign will end 24 hours before elections day.