Maysan governor declares Thursday public holiday for Speicher massacre anniversary

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Maysan Governor Habib Zahir al-Fartusi announced a public holiday for Thursday in the province to mark the anniversary of the Speicher massacre, according to a statement issued on Wednesday, June 10. The governorate's decree covers all government offices and institutions across Maysan, though students sitting for examinations, as well as those enrolled in universities, colleges and institutes, are exempt from the order. Al-Fartusi said the annual observance serves as a moment to honor the sacrifices of the victims and to recall the values demonstrated in defending the country. He closed his statement by offering condolences to Iraq's martyrs and expressing wishes for the protection of the nation and its people. The Speicher massacre, a 2014 mass killing of Iraqi Air Force recruits at a former military base north of Baghdad, remains one of the deadliest incidents of the country's conflict with the Islamic State. No further details on commemorative events in Maysan were immediately available.