Mass Protests Erupt in Dujail Against Hazardous Asphalt Plants
One resident, visibly distressed, spoke to Kurdistan24, stating, “Cancer is consuming us. One-third of our residents have been diagnosed with cancer. What is their crime?”
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Hundreds of residents of Dujail district, Salahuddin Province, staged mass protests on Saturday, demanding the immediate closure of asphalt plants that they claim are causing a catastrophic health crisis.
Protesters voiced grave concerns over rising cancer rates, which they attribute to the toxic emissions from the industrial plants operating dangerously close to residential areas.
Demonstrators blocked the Mosul-Baghdad highway for several hours, calling on the Iraqi government and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to take immediate action.
Protesters held banners and chanted slogans condemning what they described as environmental negligence, urging authorities to prioritize public health over industrial interests.
One resident, visibly distressed, spoke to Kurdistan24, stating, “Cancer is consuming us. One-third of our residents have been diagnosed with cancer. What is their crime?”
Another protester held up medical documents while pleading for government intervention, saying, “This is my family’s cancer diagnosis file. What do officials call this? What have we done to deserve this? The hospitals are inadequate, and I myself have been diagnosed with cancer. It’s shameful for those in power.”
According to recent health statistics, 450 new cancer cases have been recorded in Dujail alone, fueling suspicions that the high concentration of asphalt plants in the area is a major contributing factor.
Environmental and medical professionals have confirmed that the air pollution in Dujail has reached alarming levels. Dr. Ahmad Al-Araji, a public health expert, provided a stark warning about the situation: “Our assessments have revealed an impending environmental disaster in this district. SO2 gas has spread in the atmosphere, which the World Health Organization classifies as hazardous. When this gas remains in the air for 24 hours, its concentration can exceed acceptable levels by approximately 4,000 times.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified sulfur dioxide (SO2) as a major air pollutant that causes severe respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer.
Prolonged exposure to such high toxicity levels is considered life-threatening, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
Frustration and fear have prompted many Dujail residents to threaten further escalation if their demands are not met. Protesters warned that unless authorities move to shut down the hazardous asphalt plants, demonstrations will continue and intensify in the coming days.
Local activists have also launched a petition demanding governmental intervention, citing the Iraqi Constitution’s guarantee of a clean and safe environment for all citizens.
They argue that failing to act on these health concerns constitutes a gross violation of human rights.
While no formal response has been issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Environment or the Salahuddin provincial authorities, residents remain determined to hold officials accountable for what they describe as institutional negligence leading to a public health catastrophe.
With the situation escalating, Dujail’s residents are preparing for further demonstrations. Local health officials are urging the government to conduct an independent environmental assessment and implement urgent mitigation measures to protect public health.
As calls for justice grow louder, the Iraqi government faces mounting pressure to address what many describe as one of the most severe environmental crises in Salahuddin Province. Kurdistan24 will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on the response from authorities and local leaders.
