Al-Ghadeer Day will be observed on June 24 this year
Iraqi president ratifies official holidays law
BAGHDAD — Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid ratified the Official Holidays Law, the President’s Office announced on Tuesday.
The law, passed by the Iraqi Parliament on May 22, establishes 12 national holidays and 13 additional holidays for minority religious groups.
The national holidays include significant dates such as the Kurdish New Year, Newroz, on March 21, and the anniversary of the chemical attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja by the Ba’ath regime on March 16, 1988.
A notable addition to the holiday list is Al-Ghadeer Day, observed by Shia Muslims on the 18th of Dhu Al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar, which will be celebrated on June 24 this year.
Shia Muslims, who make up about 60 percent of Iraq’s population, regard this day as the occasion when Prophet Muhammad designated his cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor. Sunni Muslims, however, do not share this belief and consider Ali the fourth caliph after Abu Bakr, Omar, and Othman.
The inclusion of Al-Ghadeer Day resulted from strong advocacy by Shia political groups, including Muqtada al-Sadr’s National Shia Current. To balance this, the law also recognizes 12 Rabia’ Al-Awwal as the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, aligning with the Sunni tradition. The Shia celebration of the Prophet’s birthday on 17 Rabia’ Al-Awwal is not included in the official holidays calendar.
Acknowledging the diverse religious landscape of Iraq, the law also designates holidays for minority religious groups such as Christians, Yazidis, Sabea-Mandaeans, and the Jewish Al-Musawi group,
Iraq's parliament ratifies controversial public holidays law
