ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - A new proposal to turn the al-Zubair district into a separate province has sparked polemic across Iraq, with critics warning it could lead to the division of Basra and long-term instability.

MP Rafiq al-Salhi submitted the official proposal to the Iraqi parliament, supported by 80 lawmakers. He said al-Zubair has a population of more than 1.4 million people and a strategic location and thus should be entitled to provincial status.

A lawmaker from the Sadiqun bloc said in a video statement seen by The New Region that al-Zubair “has all the qualifications” to become a province. He pointed to its large population and border access, saying the district could manage its own economy and administration.

Basra Governor Asaad al-Eidani firmly rejected the proposal. In a press release shared with The New Region, he said, “Ali (peace be upon him) united it after a great fitna (civil strife), and we will not allow it to be divided today.”

“Basra is not just a geographic unit,” Eidani added. “It is a deep cultural and intellectual center.”

Sheikh Muzahim al-Tamimi, leader of the Bani Tamim tribe, called the proposal a “major crime” aimed at fragmenting Basra. In a statement followed by The New Region, he warned that a “dangerous conspiracy” was taking place. “It must be fought with full force,” he said, ending his post with a sharp message: “Damn it!”

The proposal quickly drew strong criticism. Opponents cautioned that the division of Basra, a historic province of Iraq, could harm the administrative stability of the country and pave the way for additional political rifts.

Ghassan al-Eidani, an MP from the Tasmim bloc, said the Iraqi Parliament has no legal power to decide on the issue. He explained that only the Basra Provincial Council and other government bodies have that authority, with the parliamentary motion being merely a “non-binding recommendation.”

Ali Adnan, a member of the Basra Provincial Council from the Nabni bloc, also rejected the idea. He told The New Region that al-Zubair is part of Basra and always has been. He added that calls to separate the district are political moves meant to stir public opinion, especially before elections. “After the battle over Islamic and urban issues, we are now seeing a new political conflict about dividing Basra,” he said.

Ali Abdullah al-Kan’an, head of the Security and Defense Committee in Basra, said any attempt to break al-Zubair off from Basra would be firmly opposed. “al-Zubair is a deep part of the city’s history,” he said. “We will not allow the province to be split under any circumstances.”

Many activists also criticized the proposal.

Political activist Hossam Sultan told The New Region that some Sunni political groups and Gulf countries backed the move. He warned the plan could divide Basra and allow corruption and tribal leaders to control the district. “Basra’s social and cultural fabric is united,” he said.

However, some voices in al-Zubair defended the push for change.

Civil society activist Youssef Al-Harbi said people in the district are reacting to years of neglect. In a comment to The New Region, he said essential services have been missing. He pointed out that important projects such as the Turkish hospital and the al-Khatwa Bridge are still unfinished.

“al-Zubair suffers from major shortages in resources and staff,” he said, especially in key sectors such as education, water, and sewage.

This debate comes following a similar proposal to turn Halabja into a province, signaling possible changes to Iraq’s administrative map.