Zaidi orders 72-hour probe into Maysan council head after road blockade threat

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi launched a formal investigation on Monday into Mustafa Daeer Mohammedawi, the chairman of the Maysan provincial council. The inquiry comes after Mohammedawi issued an ultimatum on Sunday, demanding that the Sheeb border crossing with Iran be reopened by Thursday or the province would enter a state of civil disobedience.

Mohammedawi warned that residents would block roads connecting Maysan to the rest of Iraq if the crossing remained shut. He stated, "If it is not opened, then the people of Maysan province will be forced to resort to civil disobedience on all roads." The threat targets a major commercial artery that has been closed since last Wednesday.

Baghdad justified the closure of the Sheeb crossing, known as Chazabeh on the Iranian side, by citing the need for improved technical and logistical infrastructure. Government spokesperson Haidar al-Aboudi noted that the site lacked necessary technological preparations. An Iraqi border official told Reuters that the shutdown allows authorities to review security arrangements and install detection equipment to stop the smuggling of prohibited materials.

Tensions are high due to accusations that drugs and currency are entering southern Iraq through Iranian borders. Abdul Amir Hassan Ali al-Taiban, an adviser to the prime minister, pointed to "uncontrolled groups" as a source of the inflow, a term often used to describe Iranian-backed militias. Iran’s embassy in Baghdad rejected these claims on Saturday, labeling them false and urging Iraqi officials to be careful with statements that could strain bilateral relations.

Legal questions have emerged regarding the prime minister’s authority to investigate an elected official. Lawmaker Mohammed Jassim al-Khafaji argued that only the provincial council can remove its chairman by majority vote. Maysan is a Shiite-majority province where the capital, Amarah, serves as a commercial hub. Local truck drivers, who rely on cross-border trade, have gathered near the closed checkpoint to protest the economic impact.

The border dispute coincides with renewed protests in Baghdad. On October 25, demonstrators gathered to mark the anniversary of the 2019 Tishreen movement. Participants waved Iraqi flags and demanded political and economic reforms. The protests are driven by young Shiite Iraqis who cite corruption, unemployment, and the influence of political factions. They specifically oppose the muhasasa system, which allocates government positions based on sectarian quotas.

Rights groups estimate that more than 600 protesters were killed during the original 2019 movement, with about 20,000 injured and 3,000 arrested. The Badr Organization, an Iranian-backed group, was accused of suppressing the early protests. Leader Hadi al-Amiri defended those groups in late August, calling the 2019 uprisings "sedition" and stating that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq helped preserve the political order.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of pro-Iran armed factions, accused the government of yielding to Washington regarding border crossings and flights. Activist Muntadhar al-Zaidi called for justice over past killings and criticized the misuse of public wealth. The National House party, linked to the Tishreen movement, urged peaceful demonstrations and demanded that weapons be placed under state control.