'Clear message'
Residents of Najaf’s Al-Mishkhab demand local council resignation over poor services
NAJAF — Residents of Al-Mishkhab in Najaf Governorate staged a nighttime protest Saturday, calling for improved services and demanding the local council’s resignation. Protesters proposed holding a referendum to gather signatures for the council’s removal and urged Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani to intervene.
Protesters accused the council of neglecting urgent issues such as deadly accidents on the unlit Al-Mishkhab–Al-Manathira Road, crumbling schools and inadequate public services. Many criticized the council for focusing on minor matters—such as issuing permits to enter the old city—while infrastructure and public safety remain in dire condition.
“The council holds full sessions to discuss entry permits to the old city while our roads are unpaved, schools are collapsing, and the water we drink is polluted,” said protester Zaid Ahmed to 964media. “Eleven billion dinars (approximately $7.33 million) were allocated to pave a nine-kilometer road, but corruption and party interference mean my family and I remain at risk every time we travel.”
Protesters said road accidents caused by poor maintenance have claimed lives and caused injuries, even during earlier demonstrations.
Najaf’s old city, centered around the Imam Ali Shrine, is a historic and religious hub that attracts millions of visitors each year. On April 16, 2024, the Najaf Governorate Council voted to adopt a mechanism allowing citizens to enter the old city more easily, issuing free authorization letters with security approvals. Previously, residents expressed frustration over a 100,000 Iraqi dinar (approximately $67) fee for vehicles entering the area—a policy implemented by the previous council.
In an effort to remove the council, protesters said they collected signatures for what they described as a democratic referendum.
“This council betrayed its responsibility,” said protester Muhannad Al-Fatlawi. “We’re sending a clear message to the prime minister and political parties that Al-Mishkhab is devastated administratively and in terms of services.”
He accused political leaders of exploiting the town during elections with false promises and minimal incentives. “They think they can win people over with a blanket, a religious visit, or 50,000 dinars (approximately $33). These individuals do not represent us,” Al-Fatlawi said.
Protests over poor public services have recurred throughout Iraq, with residents in several governorates raising concerns in early 2025. On Jan. 18, the Diwaniyah Provincial Council held an emergency session in response to weeklong demonstrations over substandard infrastructure and flooding caused by recent rains. The council removed directors and deputies at eight service departments in an attempt to appease public anger.