SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — On Monday, the Iraqi Parliament officially passed a bill recognizing Halabja as Iraq’s 19th province, a historic milestone for a city still bearing the scars of Saddam Hussein’s 1988 chemical attack, which claimed thousands of civilian lives. Of the 178 lawmakers in attendance, the majority voted in favor of the legislation.
Following the vote, Kurdish lawmakers from all factions held a joint press conference. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Shakhawan Abdullah said the success came after overcoming numerous obstacles and delays by certain parties. He praised the unity of Kurdish factions and the support of several Arab MPs in securing Halabja’s recognition as a province.
Recently appointed Acting Halabja Governor Nukhsha Nasih received a congratulatory call from Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani shortly after the bill’s passage. Barzani called the decision a long-overdue step in rebuilding Halabja and honoring its people’s sacrifices.
In a televised address from France following his meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, President Nechirvan Barzani praised the Iraqi Parliament’s passage of the bill. He thanked all Iraqi factions—particularly the Kurdish blocs—for their unified stance and strong support in recognizing Halabja as a province.
Back in Halabja, citizens in the city celebrated the long-awaited recognition of their city as Iraq’s 19th province by distributing sweets and expressing joy in the streets.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani congratulated the resilient people of Halabja, calling the decision a modest recognition of their suffering. He pledged continued coordination with the federal government to secure services and a dedicated budget for the province’s reconstruction.
The new status brings a range of benefits for Halabja, including a dedicated share of the federal development budget, independent administrative structures, and recognition as a separate electoral district in future elections. It includes four articles detailing the establishment of Halabja as a governorate, with implementation coordinated by both the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government.
The newly recognized province comprises Halabja Central District, Khurmal, and the subdistricts of Sirwan, Bamo, and Biyara, home to around 160,000 people.
On March 16, 1988, near the end of the nine-year Iran-Iraq War, the forces of toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein bombed Halabja with chemical weapons. The attack claimed the lives of at least 5,000 people – mostly women and children – and injured thousands more.