Landowners protest in Baghdad's Tarmiyah demanding property rights

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A group of landowners in the Tarmiyah district of Baghdad staged a protest on Tuesday, demanding the return of their property rights following clashes during a demolition of illegal structures in the area. The demonstrators urged the Prime Minister to intervene urgently to restore their legal ownership and resolve disputes over their land within a legal framework. The protest comes after demolition operations carried out in the Buaysa area by Baghdad Municipality and Tarmiyah Municipality on the orders of a court ruling, accompanied by Baghdad Municipal Police and local station forces. During the demolition, a gun suddenly opened fire on the teams from an owner of an illegal building, killing Brigadier General Hisham Mohammed Talla, director of the Baghdad Municipal Police's Karkh district, and Commissioner Khalid Abbas Lifta. Four people were wounded, including two police officers and two Tarmiyah municipality employees, and were taken to hospital. Protesters also raised objections to four generators owned by the assailant continuing to operate in the area after the incident, saying they found the move provocative despite the recent tensions. No further details were immediately available on any follow-up measures by authorities.