Families of Kut fire victims launch sit-in, demand governor’s dismissal

KUT — After several consecutive nights of protest, families of victims killed in last week’s deadly fire at the Corniche Hypermarket in Kut launched an open-ended sit-in Monday night outside the Wasit governorate council building, demanding the removal and prosecution of Governor Mohammed Jameel Al-Mayahy, whom they accuse of negligence.

Mourners set up condolence tents and erected the first protest shelters at the site, vowing to maintain their vigil until action is taken. In a statement, they urged Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and the Iraqi parliament to hold local officials accountable.

“We, the families of the martyrs of Kut, demand the dismissal of Governor Mohammed Jameel Al-Mayahy and his referral to the judiciary for negligence in performing duties and deliberate failure by local institutions,” the statement said.

The families also called on parliament to disclose the names of Wasit representatives who refused to sign a petition to remove the governor. “We will confront them as the families of the martyrs,” they said. A similar demand was made to the Wasit council for transparency on any upcoming vote to remove the governor.

“We ask the Supreme Judicial Council to investigate. No right will be lost as long as someone seeks it,” the statement added.

The fire, which broke out July 17 in a five-story commercial building that had opened just a week earlier, killed at least 61 people. Most died of smoke inhalation, many trapped in bathrooms with no emergency exits. A criminal investigation is underway, and the judiciary has issued arrest warrants for multiple municipal and civil defense officials. Only the building owner and his business partner remain at large.

Hashem Waheed Obeid, a survivor, told 964media he had been at the rooftop café when panic began to spread. “I asked if there was a fire — they denied it. Then I heard families screaming from the floor below,” he said.

Obeid said he tried to descend to help but was overwhelmed by smoke. “One of the market workers showed us the way to the rooftop door. There were 25 of us. When we reached the final steps, they cut the electricity. That made it harder for the families to escape,” he said.

He eventually climbed down a gas pipe and escaped through a maintenance ladder connected to neighboring homes. “I saw civil defense crews arrive with just one truck. Their response was weak,” he added.

The Iraqi judiciary has charged multiple officials under Articles 411/3 and 343/3 of the Penal Code, including the heads of Kut’s urban planning and violations divisions, the director of Wasit civil defense, and others. The Interior Ministry previously suspended 17 government employees and detained three senior officers as part of the investigation.