Baghdad: The Council of Ministers has approved a draft law aimed at regulating the rights of victims affected by the recent Kut fire incident and three other prior tragedies. This decision was made during an emergency cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who began the meeting with a recitation of Surat Al-Fatihah in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic fire at a commercial center in Kut.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Prime Minister al-Sudani expressed his condolences to the residents of Wasit Governorate and the families of the victims. He emphasized that the fire resulted from the same oversights that led to the Hamdaniya district tragedy in Nineveh Governorate, highlighting ongoing issues with occupational health and safety standards. Al-Sudani stated that he was immediately involved in the aftermath, directing the Minister of Interior and communicating with the Governor of Wasit.
The Prime Minister condemned the incident as a form of murder and corruption, extending beyond financial embezzlement to include negligence of safety protocols. The statement from the Prime Minister's Media Office noted that the Council approved the draft law to address the rights of victims from incidents at Ibn al-Khatib Hospital in Baghdad, the al-Naqa Center in Dhi Qar, the Hamdaniya incident in Nineveh, and the Corniche Hypermarket in Wasit. This new draft law is intended to replace the previous draft legislation concerning these incidents.
The Council also sanctioned the creation of a specialized investigative committee to examine the Corniche Hypermarket fire, identify those responsible, and ensure accountability. The committee has been tasked with completing its investigations within five days and reporting its findings to the Council of Ministers. Additionally, families of the deceased victims will receive compensation of 10 million dinars, and the Ministry of Health will fund necessary medical treatments for the injured, whether in Iraq or abroad.
In a related matter, Prime Minister al-Sudani acknowledged the efforts of the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Talabani, and the relevant ministers for their roles in facilitating an agreement on oil and non-oil revenues with the Kurdistan Regional Government. The committee's recommendations were presented following the ministerial committee's formation during the 27th regular session of the Council of Ministers on July 8, 2025, aligning with the Kurdistan Regional Council of Ministers Resolution No. 285 of July 16, 2025.