Iraq's higher education ministry removes University of Basra rector

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has removed the rector of the University of Basra from his position, according to a ministry document. The ministry did not disclose the reasons for the decision but stated that the rector's continued tenure was deemed contrary to the public interest. Law faculty dean Aqil al-Dahhan has been appointed to temporarily run the university's affairs, the ministry's announcement said. No specific violations or grounds for the dismissal were provided, and the ministry described the move as an administrative procedure. Lawmaker Haidar al-Mutayri welcomed the decision in a post on Facebook, calling it a significant oversight achievement. Al-Mutayri said he had raised alleged violations at the university for more than a year but that further details could not yet be made public.