New Iraqi minister under fire for 'lavish celebrations' despite year-long deadlock

Iraq's new minister of education, Ibrahim Namis Al-Jubouri, has been slammed for his lavish celebrations after his appointment to government following a year of political wrangling.

Videos showed the minister's family firing rifles into the air outside his home, leading to criticism on social media about the euphoric celebrations at a time when poverty and poor public services blight the lives of millions of Iraqis.

من داخل منزله..

جانب من احتفال ابناء عشيرة وزير التربية الجديد ابراهيم نامس الجبوري
بعد فوزه بالوزارة.#التربية_عند_جبور #التعليم_عند_العصائب pic.twitter.com/DlGCbbnp5k

— منتظر بخيت (@Mbk_Press) October 28, 2022

The Iraqi ministry of education issued a statement following the incident, stating that the video "does not represent him nor does it represent the ministry itself... but rather it is an unacceptable private matter".

Al Jubouri called on citizens of Salah al-Din governorate to "express joy in acceptable civilised and patriotic ways".

🔺الرمي و العتاد على قدر المغانم و الخمط 🔹 هذه ليست جبهة حرب بل هذا احتفال وزير التربية الجديد ابراهيم نامس الجبوري بمناسبة تسمنه المنصب !
🎴 خوش تربية وخوش تعليم ‼️ pic.twitter.com/ztxf6hqAPG

— عبد الحميد العاني 🇮🇶 (@hamid_alani) October 28, 2022

Last Thursday, the Iraqi parliament approved a cabinet in a long-awaited vote. The new government, headed by Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani, is the first since 2005 not to include members of the powerful Shia bloc, the Sadrists.

Only 21 ministerial posts were agreed upon by parliament, with two yet to be decided - the construction and housing ministry and the environment ministry.

Iraq held early elections more than a year ago after mass anti-government protests began in October 2019 in Baghdad and spread across the country.

Muqtada Al-Sadr's bloc, a leading Shia Iraqi cleric and politician, won the largest share of seats, but political infighting delayed the formation of a government for more than a year.

The Al-Jabouri controversy is not a great start to PM Al-Sudani's term in office, after pledges to stamp out the "epidemic of corruption" which he says has "affected all aspects of life".

The year-long political inter-fighting has left Iraq without a budget for 2022, holding up much-needed infrastructure projects and economic reforms.

Many Iraqis believe their situation is worsening due to a lack of services and jobs, despite Baghdad earning record income from crude oil.

Celebratory gunfire - a common phenomenon?

Celebratory gunfire is a common phenomenon across the Middle East, particularly during weddings, funerals, and elections, but has also claimed many lives due to misfiring and falling bullets.

In 2019, Iraqi MP Wahda al-Jumaili was caught on camera firing rounds into the air during New Year's Eve celebrations, leading to claims she used her legal immunity as an MP to breach the law.

According to local media reports, at least one child was killed by stray bullets during celebratory gunfire in the 2019 New Year's Eve celebrations with over 70 injured.

Last month, former Lebanese MP Othman Alameddine was arrested for firing celebratory gunshots in northern Lebanon.  

نائب المنيه السابق "عثمان علم الدين" يحتفل بطريقته الخاصة بـ حفل زفاف صديقة و مرافقة الشخصي فراس البيطار @LebISF @LebarmyOfficial pic.twitter.com/3ZJ3A5Fmxa

— WN (@wael333444) September 30, 2022

After the Lebanese parliamentary elections in May of this year, several people, including children, were injured by stray bullets. Although the practice was criminalised in 2016, it remains widespread in Lebanon.

In July of this year, Iraq’s ambassador to Beirut was dismissed after firing an RPG during a hunting trip.

Photos of Haidar Shea al-Barrak holding and firing the RPG sparked outrage on social media, who defended his actions saying it was "part of his identity".