Religious shrine in Dhi Qar draws families looking for green space in absense of a proper park

NASIRIYAH, October 3 — The Sayyid Latif Shrine in Dhi Qar’s Qalat Sukkar district draws locals looking to visit the sacred site and also spend time in the surrounding gardens.

Qalat Sukkar — or the Sukkar Citadel in English — is located 100 kilometers north of Dhi Qar’s provincial capital Nasiriyah, and the Shrine serves as a popular recreation spot for families looking for green spaces and playgrounds for their children.

Local resident Mohammed Jaber said he and his family visit the site because of few options in the area.

“I regularly visit religious shrines like Sayyid Latif’s because of the surrounding orchards,” he said. “The district only has small parks that aren’t suitable for picnics. I come here with friends or family members to get away from the city’s noise.”

Sattar Abdul Azim, another resident of Qalat Sukkar, agreed that the Shrine is a popular place for area families.

“The shrine gets crowded on holidays, festivals, and religious occasions, and families take advantage of the large park around the Shrine to spend enjoyable hours,” he said.

Anmar Al-Mashlab, a local district administrator, said budget restrictions have forced residents to find recreational places where they can, but that may change soon.

“Limited financial allocations and prioritization of other service projects prevented previous administrations from establishing recreational projects. We are currently working on preparing an initial plan for a large family park project as part of the 2024 budget,” he said.