Najaf environment chief says institutions causing pollution will be held accountable

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The director of Najaf's Environment Directorate, Jamal Abd Zaid Shilaka, said all official and unofficial institutions responsible for environmental pollution in the province must be held accountable under the law, in line with a recent directive from the Higher Judicial Council. Shilaka said the council's directive, based on a 23 June 2026 letter from the Ministry of Environment, aims to ensure enforcement of environmental standards and legal action against entities violating pollution restrictions. The directive instructs relevant courts to apply Article 32 of the 2009 Law on the Protection and Improvement of the Environment and to pursue legal action against heads of departments and institutions involved in environmental violations. Under the directive, polluting institutions will be required to eliminate the source of contamination, mitigate its effects, and compensate for damage to the environment or to citizens in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, Shilaka said. He added that the Higher Judicial Council reaffirmed the need to enforce environmental standards and ensure accountability for polluters. No further details on specific cases or timelines for enforcement were immediately available.