Iraq's Accountability and Justice Commission has banned 15 political parties from running in the upcoming general election.

This decision has caused a major crisis and highlights the fragility of the entire political process.

The comission claims they decided to ban more than 600 candidates because they promote a Baathist ideology. However, those charges are vehemently denied by the barred candidates, some of whom say that political motives are behind their exclusion.

Leading Iraqi politicians have warned that unless the crisis is solved quickly and peacefully the country's violence and instability will increase.

Inside Iraq presenter Jassim Al-Azzawi is joined by three members of the Iraqi parliament; Mustafa al-Hiti, Adnan Pachachi and Abdul-Hadi al-Hassani, to discuss this.

This episode of Inside Iraq aired from Friday, January 15.