Ninawa provincial council approves measures lifting building ban around Mosul

MOSUL, Iraq — The Ninawa Provincial Council has approved recommendations lifting the building ban on areas surrounding Mosul, a decision the head of its land commission called "a real victory for the rights of thousands of citizens." Abdullah al-Najifi said the file was among the most difficult Ninawa had faced in the past two decades, describing it as more than an administrative matter because it involved years of injustice and pending claims. The approved recommendations confirm property owners' right to build under the law and require municipal departments to expedite construction permits. The council also moved against unlawful obstructions and set deadlines for implementation. Roughly 30,000 Mosul families holding official title deeds have been unable to build on officially expropriated land around the city for years, according to the council. The measures were passed by a simple majority and set a 30-day deadline for implementation, binding municipal offices and security agencies to allow affected residents to begin construction immediately. Al-Najifi said the vote marked the beginning of restoring those rights and that completing the process would depend on the decisions being carried out in the field. He added that the land commission would continue monitoring the file.