Iraq’s Interior Ministry has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that security forces had closed Tahrir Square in central Baghdad in anticipation of protests related to the suspension of the General Amnesty Law.
A ministry source confirmed that the reports were “false,” emphasizing that all roads leading to Tahrir Square remained open and no closure had been imposed.
The controversy surrounding the square follows a decision earlier on Tuesday by Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court to suspend the implementation of three significant laws: the Personal Status Law, the General Amnesty Law, and the Restitution Law. This ruling has triggered strong reactions, particularly from Sunni political forces, some of whom have called for mass protests against the court’s decision.
Sunni leaders have accused the court of deliberately stalling the enforcement of these laws for political reasons. In response to the suspension, authorities in Sunni-majority provinces like Al-Anbar, Nineveh, and Saladin announced the suspension of official working hours.
Meanwhile, independent MP Hadi Al-Salami has called on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani to take action against the governors of these provinces for halting work. Al-Salami argued that the suspension violated Article 94 of the Iraqi constitution and pointed out that Law No. 12 of 2024 regarding official holidays does not grant provincial governors the authority to suspend operations in government institutions.
