Dhi Qar provincial council blocks university garden investment tender

DHI QAR, Iraq — A member of the Dhi Qar Provincial Council, Najm al-Ibrahimi, announced that a tender to convert a green area inside Dhi Qar University into an investment project was halted following intervention by him and the council's leadership. Al-Ibrahimi said the bidding process for a garden belonging to the university's Faculty of Education had been stopped. Al-Ibrahimi said the tender decision was taken under the previous provincial administration. He added that faculty members who objected to the decision were handcuffed and taken to police stations, where they were made to sign pledges not to continue their protest. He described the step as an unprecedented example in the province and in Iraqi universities. Al-Ibrahimi said the provincial council will continue to monitor attempts to pressure faculty members and to open public spaces to investment projects. He reiterated the council's commitment to preserving green areas and maintaining public use of university grounds.