Iraq
Halabja monument built to honor the victims of the 1988 chemical attack. File Photo: Bilind T. Abdullah
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Monday formally requested the acting speaker of parliament to prioritize Halabja’s long-awaited ascension to a province on the legislative agenda.
“We call on you to include a draft law Introducing Halabja province to the agenda of your esteemed council, for the purpose of completing voting and approving the law,” read a letter, sent by Rashid to acting parliament speaker Muhsin al-Mandalaw, seen by Rudaw English.
In March 2023, the Iraqi cabinet approved a bill to make Halabja a province. For the decision to be finalized, the Iraqi legislature must pass the bill through a vote.
“The president's letter is written out of concern for constitutional responsibility,” Hawre Tofiq, head of public relations and international organizations at the Iraqi presidency told Rudaw.
Towards the end of the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq on March 16, 1988, the city of Halabja was targeted with chemical weapons by the regime of former dictator Saddam Hussein. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 5,000 people, primarily women and children, and injured hundreds more.
In December 2013, the Iraqi Council of Ministers approved a bill to make Halabja the country’s 19th province. However, tense relations between Erbil and Baghdad, coupled with disagreements between Sunni and Shiite blocs in parliament, impeded the bill’s passage.
The Kurdistan Region’s Council of Ministers in 2014 issued a decision to turn Halabja into a province, making it the fourth province in the Region. Four years later, the Iraqi interior ministry recognized it as a province.
Halabja used to be a city within Sulaimani province. Some residents have complained that not much has changed since its status has been changed to province by the Region.
The province has a population of about 120,000 and it consists of four subdistricts: Khurmal, Biyara, Bamo, and Sirwan. It is also a tourist destination.
Hastyar Qadir contributed to this report.
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