Basra education director alleges armed assault on directorate by lawmaker and son

BASRA, Iraq — The Director General of Education in Basra, Abdürrezzak Faysal, has accused lawmaker Reca Fazıl al-Hamdi and the lawmaker's son of attacking staff at the directorate's headquarters. In a video statement, Faysal said the lawmaker "assaulted" personnel and that the son pushed him and pointed a pistol at his face while attempting to fire, before security forces intervened. He added that the son had been referred to judicial proceedings. Lawmaker Reca al-Hamdi denied the allegations. No official statement has been released confirming either side's account, and no investigation results have been published. The dispute has reopened debate over the limits of parliamentary immunity and the boundaries of lawmakers' oversight role versus interference in executive institutions. On the X platform, some users drew parallels with earlier accusations that members of parliament use influence or armed escorts when visiting state offices, arguing that proven instances would constitute a violation of state authority and the rule of law.