Wednesday declared a holiday for the anniversary of the Prophet’s death

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has declared Wednesday a public holiday for the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Muhammad, with government institutions told to suspend work, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers said.

The date falls on 28 Safar, observed by many Shia Muslims as the anniversary of the Prophet’s death. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the Gregorian date shifts each year.

The Prophet Muhammad died in Medina in 632. Sunni Muslims most commonly mark his death on 12 Rabi’ al-Awwal, which falls on Aug. 25 this year and is also observed by many as the anniversary of his birth.

Iraq’s Official Holidays Law, enacted in 2024, sets a national calendar including the Islamic New Year, Ashura, Newroz, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Ghadir.

It comes a week after millions completed the Arbaeen pilgrimage to Karbala, and two days after the government began halving what it spends on everything but wages.