Iraq's grim smoking toll, 3 deaths per hour as lawmakers debate public smoking ban

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – As Iraqi lawmakers consider legislation to ban smoking in public areas, the Ministry of Health has released alarming figures on the nation's smoking-related death toll, a number projected to climb.

While the proposed ban aims to curb the deadly habit, some remain skeptical about its enforceability given the widespread prevalence of smoking in Iraq.

Dr. Wasim Keelan, deputy director of tobacco control at the Ministry of Health, shared the stark reality with Kurdistan 24, stating, "Every 20 minutes, a person dies from smoking-related causes in Iraq." This translates to three deaths every hour, a grim statistic painting a clear picture of the crisis.

The concern extends beyond active smokers, as passive smoking – inhaling secondhand smoke – impacts over 40% of Iraqis. The proposed legislation aims to address this issue, but its potential effectiveness is being questioned.

Ammar, a smoker, voiced his concerns, "The law is good, but will it be implemented? Certainly not, because the number of smokers in Iraq is very large." He highlights the cultural challenges in enforcing such a ban, stating that Iraqis "like to practice smoking without restrictions."

Experts echo these concerns, suggesting that despite the law's potential benefits, its practical enforcement may prove challenging given the sheer number of smokers and the lack of widespread awareness about the dangers of smoking.

The proposed ban underscores the urgent need to tackle the growing tobacco epidemic in Iraq. While the legislation is a step in the right direction, its success hinges on effective implementation and public education efforts to change the cultural norms surrounding smoking.

Further reporting was done by Kurdistan24 correspondent Seif Ali.