Set to begin in April
Iraqi government initiates gun buyback program across country
BAGHDAD – The Ministry of Interior’s Spokesperson, Brigadier General Muqdad Meery, announced on Monday that 697 centers across 15 provinces are being prepared for the purchase of firearms from citizens.
According to Meery, the Ministry has approved the commencement of issuing gun licenses in Salah Al-Din and Muthanna provinces for those who have registered their firearms.
He told the Iraqi News Agency that the Ministry has established guidelines for the purchase process, including setting prices.
Meery highlighted that the government has allocated up to one billion dinars [around $750,000] to each province as an initial payment, with two billion designated for the capital. The medium arms buyback is scheduled to begin on April 1st, with plans for regulating light arms at a later stage.
Meery issued a warning about the consequences of non-compliance, stating, “Weapons not purchased within the specified periods will be deemed illegal, subject to legal actions, inspections, and court orders for their inventory, regulation, and control.”
In recent months, the Ministry launched public awareness campaigns regarding the issue, which, according to Meery, “have led to significant citizen participation in selling weapons to the government and registering firearms.” The objective, he added, was to ensure that all arms were under the state’s control and authority.
Decades of conflict in Iraq have led to the widespread availability of arms, with many citizens possessing weapons without government-issued licenses.
Gun control and regulation have been major demands of Iraqi citizens due to the prevalence of violence. However, it remains unclear how the government plans to address the presence of various militias that possess a wide array of weapons and often operate outside the government’s control.