Iraq Heritage Body Defends Qishla Contract as Maintenance Funding, Not Investment

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's General Heritage and Tourism Institution on Wednesday rejected social media claims that a historic Ottoman-era building in central Baghdad had been opened for investment, saying the agreement was instead a collection contract designed to fund restoration work. The institution said the Qishla, located near Mutenebbi Street along the Tigris River, has been used by multiple government agencies but none have contributed adequately to maintenance costs. Rental fees under the contract are set by an expert commission within the institution, and the arrangement is subject to regulations protecting state ownership and heritage preservation, officials said. The Iraqi Publishers and Booksellers Association announced plans to hold a protest Friday in front of the building, which has been closed to the public for more than a year. The group is calling for the structure to be reopened, saying its historical and cultural identity must be preserved. The Qishla was constructed during the Ottoman period as the city's central administrative hub and military headquarters.