Eid imposes “emergency” security measures in Iraq
Eid imposes “emergency” security measures in Iraq
2025-03-31 05:16
Shafaq News/ Iraqi security authorities have taken emergency preventive measures to ensure a safe Eid al-Fitr celebration. They have increased security presence on streets and in public areas, provided additional services such as transportation, health, and rescue, and raised awareness among citizens through a series of recommendations and guidelines.
The week-long Eid holiday in Iraq represents an ideal opportunity to visit recreational facilities and enjoy various activities. To ensure this atmosphere, the General Directorate of Civil Defense has completed all necessary preparations by conducting field inspections of amusement facilities.
Readiness and preparedness
The director of public relations and media at the directorate, Nawas Sabah, explained these preparations, saying, “Owners of recreational areas have been asked to submit approved certificates for inspection, in addition to conducting the necessary follow-up to maintain these rides.”
Sabah told Shafaq News Agency, “The directorate has been working to inspect safety procedures and meet civil defense requirements at these facilities, including distributing fire extinguishers and training amusement park workers on their proper use. Signs have also been placed to highlight emergency exits and ensure the safety of families and visitors.”
In the context of procedural and executive aspects, the Civil Defense Directorate has taken the initiative to “deploy specialized firefighting, rescue, and ambulance teams to recreational areas, public parks, and gardens, in addition to shopping centers, crowded areas, and major intersections.”
Sabah pointed out that “this measure aims to enhance the speed of response to accident sites and avoid traffic congestion. These teams will remain present around the clock near these areas until the end of Eid al-Fitr.”
On the awareness front, the Civil Defense Directorate issued a set of recommendations and guidelines for ensuring the safety of Eid al-Fitr. These guidelines include those related to barbecues, which should be conducted in designated areas and adhere to all safety requirements.
The directorate also stressed the need to “prevent the setting off of fireworks, especially by children, and to refrain from using them near hospitals, trees, and commercial markets.”
Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, visited the Joint Operations Command headquarters on Saturday, where he monitored the implementation of security and service plans for Eid al-Fitr, in the presence of the Mayor of Baghdad.
According to a statement issued by his office and received by Shafaq News Agency, Al-Sudani reviewed the detailed procedures for the duties and tasks assigned to the security and service agencies within their areas of responsibility, directing them to adhere to the plans in place and implement them accurately without any laxity.
He stressed that Eid is a religious and social occasion that requires exceptional efforts from security and service agencies to ensure the safety of citizens, secure transportation, and maintain public order during the holiday.
Security measures
For its part, the Baghdad Operations Command announced its Eid al-Fitr security plan last Thursday, including 10 key measures to ensure security and stability in the capital, in addition to two hotlines to receive citizen complaints and report any security threats.
According to a statement issued by the Operations Command, the security measures were as follows:
1. Providing protection for citizens, holy shrines, places of worship, as well as public places (markets, malls, restaurants, parks, children’s amusement parks) and all sites that witness crowds and gatherings, including “cemeteries and burial places” during the days of Eid al-Fitr.
2. The security plan will be implemented in stages, through the presence of commanders and commanders at the head of their units in all formations of the Ministries of Defense and Interior, and the units and intelligence agencies attached to them, and the continuation of search and inspection operations in the region to pursue outlaws and organized and criminal crime gangs.
3. (12) control headquarters were prepared to directly supervise the implementation of the security plan and handle emergency situations and immediate situations in coordination with the units holding the ground.
4. Preventing the passage of motorcycles of all kinds and horse-drawn carriages in crowded places and public markets, and checking them carefully if necessary to enter them.
5. Follow up on safety and security procedures for hotels, restaurants, amusement parks, and garages (“wheel parking lots”) in coordination with the relevant authorities.
6. Deploying and distributing rescue patrols, fire brigades and ambulances near public and recreational places to deal with emergency and immediate cases.
7. Deploying intelligence services detachments in civilian clothes to monitor and follow up on negative phenomena that harm the reputation of Baghdad society and take legal action against their perpetrators.
8. Conducting awareness and guidance campaigns for citizens through the media departments and divisions and moral guidance for leaders in coordination with the departments of the Media and Relations Directorate at the Ministry of Interior (Community Police – Combating Rumors).
9. Emphasizing that no main or secondary road should be blocked, and in urgent cases of blocking, it should be done temporarily and after obtaining the approval of our command headquarters exclusively.
10. Emphasizing the facilitation of the mission of media cadres of satellite channels, news agencies, and other media outlets in their field coverage during the days of Eid al-Fitr.
11. Contact the hotline numbers below for the Baghdad Operations Command to receive any complaints or report any information that may threaten security: (07730009708 / 07834887408).
Kurdistan Region
In the Kurdistan Region, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Department of Media and Information announced on Saturday that intensive security measures would be taken to ensure the safety of citizens during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which begins on Sunday, March 29, 2025, and continues until April 5, 2025.
The department clarified, in a statement received by the agency, that all security forces will be on high alert in the region’s various governorates and autonomous administrations to protect lives and property and implement the security plan for this occasion.
The plan focuses on tightening security at vital sites within cities and surrounding areas to prevent any security breaches. Security teams will also continue to be deployed in public places and markets to ensure stable security conditions.
The plan also includes deploying security teams in tourist areas, in coordination with the governorates and the Tourism Authority, to protect tourists and ensure their safety during the holiday.
The Erbil Traffic Directorate also decided to ban the use of large trucks and all types of motorcycles during Eid al-Fitr, from 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM.
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