Residents of the Bismayah complex in the capital Baghdad organized a peaceful protest yesterday evening, Tuesday, in objection to the procedures imposed by the company responsible for services and maintenance in the complex, which caused traffic congestion on the main public road that connects Baghdad to the central and southern governorates .
The protesters stressed that the company imposed the “electronic gates” system that restricts movement in and out of the complex, and requires carrying an electronic card (badge) that is not granted to residents by the Investment Authority except after paying their debts to the service company, or to the banks in the event of their delay in paying the monthly installment .
They pointed out that this system forced taxi and motorcycle owners to pay high fees for services they described as “almost non-existent .”
One of the demonstrators added: “The company did not stop there, but rather withdrew the security forces that were providing protection to the residents, and replaced them with its own security guards, which increased the residents’ concerns about their safety .”
The demonstrators raised banners based on the terms of the contract signed between the company and the National Investment Authority, which stipulates that the company shall not interfere in the freedom of entry and exit of residents .
Other demonstrators pointed out the difficulties they face in obtaining electronic cards, as they suffer from lengthy procedures and standing in long queues due to bureaucracy and crowding, which leads to delays in delivering the cards and prevents them from entering their homes .
One protester also questioned the legality of the current security measures, saying: “Are these decisions based on the laws of the Ministry of Interior or are they just internal decisions of the company? ”
It is worth noting that the Iraqi constitution and laws do not include in any of their provisions preventing a citizen from entering a residential complex in which he has a property that he owns according to official legal documents unless he has a paper or electronic card issued by a private services company and not a government one .
The protest comes amid ongoing tensions between Bismayah residents and the company, with residents expressing concerns that the gate system could become a means of restricting their freedom and compromising the security of the complex, calling for a comprehensive review of these measures and ensuring residents’ rights.
