Residents Protest Repair Ban on Homes Near Mosul Archaeological Site

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Residents of Nebi Yunus village near Mosul gathered Sunday to protest a years-long ban on repairing or rebuilding their homes, which sit in the vicinity of an archaeological site. The demonstrators said they hold official property deeds for their homes but have repeatedly been denied repair permits by authorities. Several residents reported that some structures have sustained serious damage and others have partially collapsed, creating safety risks for inhabitants. The protesters called on the General Directorate of Antiquities and Heritage, the Ministry of Culture, and the federal government to either provide fair compensation and allow expropriation or permit residents to repair and reconstruct their properties. They cited constitutional protections for private ownership, arguing that neither repair rights nor compensation has been offered despite the restrictions. According to the residents, previous appeals to the prime minister's office and other relevant institutions have not produced a resolution to the situation.