Tribal conference in Ramadi opposes Anbar provincial council's staff changes

RAMADI, Iraq — A wide-ranging tribal conference held in Ramadi on Thursday opposed recent staff changes by the Anbar Provincial Council, with participants saying some dismissed employees were removed based on partisan criteria rather than merit. Attendees said the council's decisions to remove certain officials and appoint replacements conflicted with principles of equal opportunity and professional competence. Participants also criticized decisions by Education Minister Abdul Karim Abtan, arguing they were driven by party instructions issued on the recommendation of the Anbar Provincial Council. Tribal representatives called on the prime minister to intervene urgently to halt the dismissals and related measures. The conference statement demanded that state institutions be managed on the basis of competence and professional merit, and that the Ministry of Education be kept out of partisan disputes and political infighting. Attendees urged a review of the contested decisions and called for the adoption of standards of qualification and integrity to protect the public interest and institutional stability.