A view of Soran city. (Photo: the website of the Kurdistan Regional Government.)
During Ramadan
Soran commercial committee cracks down on fraudulent Ramadan discounts
SORAN — The Soran Commercial Monitoring Committee has warned local businesses against offering unauthorized or fraudulent discounts during Ramadan, officials said. Businesses—including markets and companies—that violate the guidelines risk legal action, which could include having their establishments closed.
Wafa Saidkhan, head of the committee, told 964media, “We are notifying all companies, stores, and markets. We want prices to be reduced for the benefit of citizens during Ramadan.”
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting from dawn to sunset. Local businesses customarily offer discount promotions during the holy month; however, any establishment planning such offers must notify the committee in advance. Companies are required to submit a list of discounted items along with their prices before and after the reduction.
Officials stressed that any establishment engaging in discount fraud will face strict penalties and legal action. Saidkhan also noted that shop owners should exclude items nearing expiration from discount offers to ensure product safety, though these products may still be sold until their expiration date.
When asked for further details, he explained that, legally, products can be sold up until the day before they expire. While authorities require that such items be excluded from discount promotions, there are no legal consequences if businesses choose to offer discounts on them.
The Soran Autonomous Administration in Erbil Governorate comprises six districts, 13 sub-districts, and nearly 800 villages, serving a population of approximately 400,000.
Several cases of fake discounts have been reported across the region. On Feb. 12, authorities in Zakho, Duhok Governorate, shut down a clothing store after discovering that it had misled customers by inflating prices before applying supposed discounts. In late December 2024, Erbil’s Commercial Inspection Committees conducted visits to shops and issued penalties to several stores found violating sales and promotion regulations, including the use of false discounts.
