Over 15 suicides since the start of 2024
Diyala town holds community forum after string of suicides
MIQDADIYAH — Officials in Miqdadiyah, Diyala are grappling with a recent rise in suicides after three incidents occurred within a week.
A forum held on May 5 brought together representatives from the Noor Foundation, a civil rights group, as well as the local human rights commission, Shiite and Sunni religious endownments, the Miqdadiyah Youth Forum, community police and narcotics affairs directorate.
The event aimed to understand the factors behind the suicides and develop strategies to prevent future tragedies.
Zaid Hassan Ibrahim, Miqdadiyah’s qaymaqam, emphasized the local government’s role, highlighting its collaboration with international and community organizations to launch awareness programs and activate sports and cultural initiatives targeting local youth.
“Our programs take place throughout the year to involve young people in cultural and sports events in coordination with relevant institutions, the community police, and anti-narcotics police,” he stated, adding that these efforts focus on highlighting social problems affecting society.
Salah Mehdi, director of the Human Rights Commission in Diyala, said his organization has documented over 15 suicides in the governorate since the beginning of the year, with young people disproportionately affected. He stressed the need to understand underlying causes that push individuals to contemplate suicide, which include social and psychological pressures, drug addiction, poverty, domestic issues, and online exploitation.
“The community needs a real strategy to confront this phenomenon,” Mehdi said, advocating for increased support from youth and cultural institutions.
Arkan Ali Hussein, the mukhtar (local representative) for Miqdadiyah’s market area, reported three suicides took place in the area just last week. He said communication with the families revealed financial hardship as a primary driver.
Hussein emphasized poverty as a leading factor, alongside domestic violence, family breakdown, involvement in illegal activities, and religious alienation.
One suicide case reportedly involved a man who was unable to afford montly alimony payments of 300,000 dinars ($229) to his ex-wife, while his daily wages amounted to 8,000 dinars ($6).
Local religious leader Ahmed Al-Bayati urged mosques to use Friday sermons and other gatherings to educate young people about the religious prohibition of suicide. He hopes this approach will discourage individuals from taking their own lives.