'Mistakes from the beginning'
Sulaymaniyah residents struggle with traffic jams caused by funerals at local mosque
SULAYMANIYAH— Traffic congestion caused by funerals at the Ahmad Haji Ali Mosque has become a persistent issue for residents and commuters in Sulaymaniyah, local authorities and residents say.
The mosque, located on Sixty Street, is the primary venue for large funerals in the governorate, featuring separate large halls for men’s and women’s services. This central location has led to frequent traffic jams, particularly during funeral events.
Hunar Hassan, a resident who regularly commutes via Sixty Street, voiced his frustration to 964media. “Whenever I leave my house, I pray there isn’t a funeral at the mosque,” Hassan said. “Yesterday, I was stuck in my car for over half an hour. It’s impossible to navigate through this street, even in emergencies. Either the mosque should cease hosting funerals, or a traffic team should monitor the area during such times.”
Another local, Kamal Ali, echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the Sulaymaniyah Traffic Directorate should manage the flow of vehicles on days when funerals are held. “Whenever there’s a funeral, traffic becomes a problem for everyone,” Ali told 964media.
In response to these concerns, Abbas Khidr, director of the Sulaymaniyah Endowment Office, acknowledged the lack of alternatives. “The funeral hall at the mosque is large and all major funerals take place there,” Khidr said. “The location and the hall itself were mistakes from the beginning. Today, I personally witnessed the crowd and traffic issues.”
Khidr, who has held his position for two months, noted the absence of efforts to resolve the situation. “A new, large hall should be constructed elsewhere to prevent these disruptions,” he suggested.
Bahman Abdullah, spokesperson for the Sulaymaniyah Traffic Directorate, pointed out the impracticality of dedicating traffic units to the mosque for every funeral, given the city’s broader traffic management needs. “Most days, the mosque hosts funerals, and we can’t assign a traffic unit there for every event,” Abdullah said. “We don’t have enough staff to dedicate units to every mosque or facility.”
Abdullah emphasized that a long-term solution would involve establishing designated funeral venues away from crowded areas, complete with their own parking facilities. “Temporary measures won’t solve the problem,” he concluded.
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