Service Building Project Sparks Dispute Between Qamishlo District Administration and Municipality
Welat TV – Erbil
The Media Office of the Qamishlo District Administration issued a statement on Friday, September 4, 2026, responding to posts circulated by social media pages operating under the name “Qamishlo Municipality.” The office rejected what it described as allegations and inaccurate information involving District Director Jihan Hossam in decisions related to the service building project.
In its statement, the Media Office said claims concerning Hossam’s role in the project had no legal basis, explaining that linking her to decisions dating back to 2024 was based on the false assertion that she held a particular position at the time.
Qamishlo Administration: Jihan Hassam Was Not an Adviser to the Autonomous Administration in 2024
The statement said the claim that Jihan Hossam served as an adviser to the Autonomous Administration in 2024 was “false and baseless,” and therefore linking her name to decisions made during that period had no legal foundation.
The administration stressed that the clarification was intended to distinguish administrative responsibilities and identify the authorities that had jurisdiction over decisions concerning the project at the time.
Denial of Any Approval or Support from Jihan Hassam for the Service Building Project
The statement rejected claims that Hossam had approved or supported the project, saying she had not been a decision-maker, issuing directives, or an approving authority for the project in any capacity.
It stressed that administrative responsibilities cannot be attributed retroactively, adding that attempts to hold the district director responsible for decisions dating back to 2024 amounted to a conflation of facts, duties, and administrative responsibilities.
The statement also noted that demands for the release of workers fall under the jurisdiction of the competent judicial and legal authorities and cannot be handled through social media platforms.
Emphasis on Implementing Projects Within Legal Frameworks
The Qamishlo District Administration stressed its full respect for municipal institutions and its commitment to ensuring the continued provision of services to residents, provided that projects are implemented within legal frameworks that safeguard the public interest and public funds.
Through its statement, the administration emphasized the importance of adhering to legal procedures in managing public projects and services, away from any confusion over administrative powers or responsibilities.
Qamishlo Municipality: Project Approved During 2024–2025 Period
Earlier on Friday, Qamishlo Municipality said that the service building project affiliated with the municipality had been approved by the “Democratic Autonomous Administration and Municipal Council” for the 2024–2025 period, and that work on the project had begun with the support and approval of Jihan Hassam, who, according to the municipality, was serving at the time as an adviser to the “Democratic Autonomous Administration.”
The municipality said that following the integration process and Hossam’s appointment as director of the district administration, she ordered the detention and arrest of workers involved in the project.
This account contrasts with the statement issued by the Media Office of the Qamishlo District Administration, which explicitly denied that Hossam had served as an adviser to the Autonomous Administration in 2024 or that she had been a decision-maker, issuing directives, or approving authority for the project.
Qamishlo Municipality Building Dispute Dates Back to Early July
The dispute over the old Qamishlo Municipality building became public in early July 2026, when machinery belonging to the “Autonomous Administration” began demolishing the historic building, which was constructed in 1935 during the French Mandate. The administration cited the building’s inability to accommodate the needs of a city whose population is now estimated at around one million.
The demolition sparked widespread controversy, with residents, activists, civil society organizations, and the Syrian government describing the move as an attack on the city’s collective memory and architectural heritage.
Since then, controversy surrounding the service building project and the authorities responsible for decisions concerning it has continued to escalate, culminating in a series of statements and counter-statements over the roles of officials and administrative bodies in the project, particularly regarding Jihan Hossam’s responsibility and position on the matter.