Iraqi lawmakers slam political interference in state property sales

BAGHDAD – Iraqi lawmakers and government officials are sounding the alarm over thousands of state-owned properties that have been illegally occupied or sold at steep discounts. They accuse powerful political and armed groups of blocking efforts to recover assets and halt corruption.

Hadi Al-Salami, a member of the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, said successive governments have failed to address these state property violations. He noted, “The reason for this failure is that those illegally holding these properties are influential entities and individuals. Everyone fears confronting them or reclaiming these properties that have been unlawfully seized for years,” he told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. He stressed the need for judicial intervention, adding, “Resolving such a case must be in the hands of a specialized judicial body to ensure it is free from favoritism or political pressure.”

Parliamentary committees have uncovered large-scale corruption in state property transactions, Al-Salami said. “The Parliamentary Committee, along with other committees, has identified major suspicions in the state property file and submitted documented reports to the relevant authorities. We continue to follow up on legal measures to stop these violations and recover properties worth billions, but so far, no real progress has been made due to the absence of political will. The properties remain under the control of influential ruling figures.”

On March 3, the Parliamentary Committee for the Protection of State Property announced that it had identified more than 9,000 state-owned properties seized over the years, including 36 major properties occupied since 2005. Committee Chairman Amir Al-Maamouri told the Iraqi News Agency, “The committee has worked to catalog these properties, whether occupied by organizations, influential figures, or political blocs. Many of these properties belong to the state, yet they have been taken over for years.”

Al-Maamouri also highlighted cases of undervalued sales. “Some properties valued at 50 billion dinars [$33.8 million] were sold for less than 5 billion dinars [$3.4 million], meaning a loss of 45 billion dinars [$30.4 million] on a single property,” he said. “Some properties were sold exclusively without any public announcement or auction.”

On April 18, 2024, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that nearly 20,000 state-owned properties exist in Baghdad alone, with more than one million across other governorates. A ministry spokesperson said that, under the direction of Minister Khalid Shawani, a special committee has been formed to tackle the issue. “The properties have been inventoried and archived to prevent tampering or forgery,” the spokesperson said, adding, “All relevant entities, including municipalities, Baghdad’s Secretariat, and the Ministry of Finance, have been informed.” The ministry maintained that the legal framework is straightforward, asserting, “The properties have been preserved and archived.”