Federal Court Rejects Minorities' Lawsuit Against Nineveh Governor and Council Head

The Federal Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a lawsuit filed by minority representatives against the Governor of Nineveh and the head of the Provincial Council. The court's decision followed its review of case No. 194/Federal/2026, which was brought by several current members of Parliament. These included Wadd Mahmoud Ahmed Al-Qadu, representing the Shabak quota; Ahlam Ramadan Fattah, representing the Kakai component; Khaled Sido Aziz, representing the Yazidi quota; and Duraid Jamil Ishou, a member of Parliament from the fifth session representing the Christian component. The lawsuit targeted the Nineveh Provincial Council Head and the Governor of Nineveh in their official capacities. The lawsuit concerned a challenge to the validity of Nineveh Provincial Council Resolution No. (168) of 2026. This resolution involved an absolute majority vote on the recommendations of a committee formed under administrative order (No. 7048 dated 24/12/2024), which dealt with residential lands with official deeds where construction is prohibited. The plaintiffs had requested a ruling on the unconstitutionality of the challenged decision. The Court concluded its proceedings by dismissing the plaintiffs' lawsuit due to a lack of jurisdiction, citing Article (93/third) of the 2005 Constitution of the Republic of Iraq, and Article (31/eleven/3) of Law No. (21) of 2008 on Provinces Not Organized into a Region, as amended. The Court clarified that this decision was issued unanimously, and is final and binding, in accordance with Articles (93 and 94) of the Constitution, and Articles (4 and 5) of Federal Supreme Court Law No. (30) of 2005, as amended. The verdict was publicly announced on September 7, 2026.