Baghdad and public service

Among the important projects I am proud to have helped launch during my tenure as Mayor of Baghdad from 2004 to 2005 was the expansion of the courtyard surrounding the shrine of Imams Musa al-Kadhim and Muhammad al-Jawad, peace be upon them, in Kadhimiya. Work began during my tenure and was completed after I left office in August 2005. The first photograph shows the shrine’s urban setting before the expansion.

The red line marks the old wall adjoining the courtyard at the bottom of the photograph, which prevented a continuous route around the shrine.

The project involved removing the old wall, opening up the surrounding spaces, and removing structures and obstacles that separated parts of the site. These spaces were then reorganised and incorporated into the courtyard, with a new outer wall enclosing the expanded area.

The second photograph shows the urban transformation after the expansion. The space around the shrine became larger and better connected, allowing more room for visitors to move and for religious gatherings.

I recall this project with pride, both for its urban and religious significance and because it was among the projects initiated while I was Mayor of Baghdad. The responsible authorities continued the work after I left office until it was completed.

Comparing these photographs documents part of the shrine’s urban transformation and clarifies the project’s chronology. Work began during my tenure from 2004 to 2005, continued after my departure, and was subsequently completed. Recording these facts in their historical context matters: they form part of the city’s development, a continuing process involving institutions and officials across different periods, rather than belonging to one person or one stage.