Dhi Qar, Babil provincial councils adjust working hours for Shia mourning days

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Dhi Qar Provincial Council has declared Tuesday an official holiday to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas, council spokesman Ahmed al-Ibrahimi said in a written statement. Al-Ibrahimi said the decision was taken to allow public commemorations and enable residents to attend mourning rituals. The Babil Provincial Council moved separately to shorten its official working hours, bringing the workday to end at 1:00 p.m. from Monday, June 22, 2026, through the close of business on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. A brief council statement said the adjustment was introduced to accommodate condolence ceremonies and sacred Husayni processions. Both measures align local government operations with dates on the Shia religious mourning calendar, reshaping public services during the commemorative period. No further details on the scope of the changes were immediately available.