The decision by the Najaf Provincial Council to dismiss the airport director, Ali Ahmed Hassan, has sparked significant controversy and crisis in the province, with Hassan refusing to leave his position and enlisting security forces to cordon off the airport.
The dismissal was detailed in a document issued by the Chairman of the Najaf Provincial Council, Hassan Al-Eisawi, stating: "In accordance with Articles 115 and 122 of the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq 2005 and Article 7/Third of the amended Provincial Law No. 21 of 2008, the Najaf Provincial Council in its ordinary session numbered 10/6 held on April 16, 2024, issued the following decision:
1. Dismiss Ali Ahmed Hassan from the duties of Director of Najaf International Airport.
2. Assign Hussein Abbas Mahna as the Director of Najaf International Airport for a period of six months with full administrative and financial authorities to perform his duties and improve the airport's situation.
3. The airport shall be administratively linked to the Governor of Najaf.
4. The airport is subject to the supervision and oversight of the Provincial Council.
5. The airport director must present a detailed development plan for the airport and a vision for its future advancement to the Provincial Council for approval.
6. The airport director must submit an annual budget specific to the airport for approval by the Provincial Council.
7. The Governor is tasked with implementing this decision.
8. This decision will be published in the official gazette (Najaf Facts) and is effective from the date of issuance."
The reasons for the dismissal were cited as "to organize the work of Najaf International Airport and improve its administrative reality in a manner that meets public interest and enhances management performance, commensurate with the scale of the tasks and services it provides, considering it an investment project under Investment License No. 1 of 2008 issued by the Najaf Investment Authority, and according to the contract provisions between the local government in Najaf and the investing company, given that the funds for establishing the airport were disbursed from the regional development budget allocated to the province, estimated at 103 billion Iraqi dinars. The airport's facilities, equipment, and contents are owned by the local government according to the real estate registration department in Najaf."
### Airport Revenue Shortfall
After the dismissal decision, the Najaf Provincial Council considered that the appointment of Ali Ahmed Hassan was made through the civil aviation authority, which is contrary to the law and was done in the absence of the Provincial Council, noting that the airport's revenue shortfall has reached 150 million dollars. Following this, Hassan refused to leave his position and requested security forces to surround Najaf International Airport, insisting on not handing over the position to his successor.
These developments prompted a meeting between the Najaf Council, its governor, and the police chief. In the midst of these events, the Chairman of the Najaf Provincial Council, Hussein Al-Eisawi, stated that "the airport will be handed over tomorrow."
Al-Eisawi also mentioned that "a delegation from the Prime Minister's office will arrive tomorrow morning in Najaf to negotiate the airport handover," following the Provincial Council's decision to give the central government and the Governor of Najaf 24 hours, after the dismissed airport director, Ali Al-Saeedi, refused to hand over to the new director, Hussein Mahna.
He added that "the governor and the police chief are responsible for the entry of any security force from outside Najaf." It was reported that these events did not affect flight operations at Najaf International Airport.
