ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – An Iraqi court on Monday issued an arrest warrant against Mustafa Duair Abdulhassan, head of the Maysan Provincial Council, for threatening civil disobedience over the closure of a border crossing with Iran.

Addressing protesters in Maysan on Sunday, Abdulhassan threatened “civil disobedience” and to “cut Maysan off from the rest of Iraq” if the al-Shib border crossing, recently closed by the Iraqi government, was not opened by Thursday.

In response, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi directed an investigation against him, with the premier’s office accusing the council chief of “using inappropriate language.”

A Baghdad investigation court on Monday “decided to issue an arrest warrant” against Abdulhassan after the prime minister’s office filed a complaint, read a document of the ruling seen by The New Region.

Abdulhassan is affiliated with the Sadiqoun bloc of Shiite strongman Qais al-Khazali, which constitutes the political wing of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia.

On Thursday, demonstrations were held in Maysan to protest the closure of the Shib border crossing. The protests were led by dozens of truck drivers and other workers who depend on the crossing.

Sources speaking to The New Region days prior said that the Shib border crossing in Maysan province would be closed from Wednesday morning “until further notice,” without disclosing the reason, adding that all other border crossings with Iran would also be gradually closed.

Iraq’s border ports authority on Wednesday said the country’s land crossings on the border with Iran are currently undergoing “rehabilitation works,” following international reports that the crossings were closed under pressure from Washington.