Chairman of Nineveh Provincial Council ousted over forged credentials and legal violations

DASHTO D’NINWE — The Nineveh Provincial Council has dismissed its head, Ahmed al-Hasud, over allegations of forging his educational credentials and committing legal violations.

Al-Hasud rejected the decision, questioning the validity of the Council’s procedures. Despite being summoned for interrogation on Wednesday, he did not attend the session. Following his absence, 16 of the Council’s 29 members voted in favor of his dismissal.

In a statement to the media, Sherwan Dubardani, a lawmaker representing Nineveh Province in Iraqi Parliament, explained that al-Hasud’s dismissal was based on his forged academic degree and other legal breaches.

Dubardani stated that al-Hasud’s dentistry degree, allegedly obtained from Ukraine, is not recognized in Iraq, leaving his officially recognized education level equivalent to a 6th-grade preparatory school diploma. This, Dubardani said, legally disqualifies al-Hasud from holding the position of chairman.

The lawmaker also announced that the Nineveh Provincial Council plans to begin reversing illegal decisions made during al-Hasud’s tenure starting next week.

Controversy Over Dismissal Procedures

Al-Hasud is affiliated with the National Contract Alliance, a political bloc tied to Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) leader Falih al-Fayyadh. In response to the dismissal, the National Contract Alliance issued a statement on al-Hasud’s behalf, accusing the Council of violating provincial law and its internal regulations.

The statement argued that al-Hasud should have been provided the questions for the interrogation session at least seven days in advance, as required by law, but received them only three days prior. It further criticized the dismissal process as unlawful and procedurally flawed.

Looking Ahead

The Council’s decision marks a significant step in addressing allegations of corruption and misconduct within its leadership. However, the legal dispute over the dismissal procedures may prolong the controversy, with both sides defending their positions.

As the situation unfolds, the Nineveh Provincial Council faces the challenge of restoring public trust and implementing necessary reforms to correct past missteps under al-Hasud’s tenure.