Iraqi President Visits Halabja Following Governorate Recognition

Iraqi President's media office

Iraqi President, Dr Abdullatif Jamal Rashid.

Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid accompanied by First Lady Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmad and a delegation of senior presidential advisers, made an official visit to Halabja, reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing the province’s development.

They met with Governor Nuxsha Nasih and senior local officials and  visited the Governorate headquarters, the Halabja Martyrs’ Monument, and the University of Halabja.

During his meetings, the President emphasised the importance of unified efforts and enhanced cooperation among institutions to better serve citizens, uphold security and stability, and protect the nation’s hard-won achievements secured through the sacrifices of the Iraqi people in their pursuit of freedom, dignity, and sovereignty.

At the Governorate headquarters, the President and First Lady met with Governor Nuxsha Nasih and senior local officials to review the province’s current conditions and discuss priorities for economic growth, infrastructure, and security.

“Strategic development projects must be prioritised to strengthen Halabja’s infrastructure and improve the quality of essential public services,” President Rashid said, stressing that sustainable national progress is contingent on long-term security.

He called on local authorities to intensify efforts in serving the public and ensuring citizens enjoy a dignified and prosperous standard of living.

Governor Nasih updated the President on ongoing reconstruction efforts and improvements in public services. She welcomed the visit, expressed her appreciation for the President’s continued support, and reaffirmed her administration’s dedication to driving development across all sectors of the province.

At the Halabja Martyrs’ Monument, the President delivered a moving address, expressing pride in visiting Halabja Province, a city that has become a symbol of resilience and determination. He emphasised the historic significance of this visit, as Halabja has recently been granted provincial status, underscoring the federal government’s commitment to its development and growth.

The President paid tribute to Halabja’s extraordinary cultural and historical legacy, describing it as a center of civilization, literature and political thought. He noted the city’s proud tradition of producing distinguished poets, writers, statesmen and pioneering women leaders who have shaped Iraq’s modern history.

President Rashid strongly condemned the atrocities of the former dictatorial regime, which unleashed a chemical attack on Halabja, claiming the lives of more than 5,000 innocent people, among them women, children and the elderly.

Calling for unified action, he urged the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government to work hand in hand to rebuild Halabja. He stressed the urgent need to implement infrastructure projects, expand essential services and drive comprehensive development across all sectors to secure a prosperous future for the province and its people.

Commenting on the visit, Chro Hama Sharif, a Member of Iraqi parliament from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) bloc, told PUKMEDIA: “The President’s visit to Halabja is of great importance. It is a gesture of congratulations on its establishment as a governorate, a show of support, and an opportunity to assess the needs and demands of its people and work toward resolving the challenges it faces.”

The visit follows a ruling by the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, which dismissed two legal challenges filed against the law establishing Halabja Governorate.

Halabja was first declared a governorate by the Kurdistan Regional Government on 13 March 2014. The Iraqi parliament passed the law confirming its status on 14 April 2025, followed by the issuance of a Republican Decree by President Rashid on 29 April 2025. The law was officially published in the Iraqi Gazette on 5 May 2025, finalising its legal standing.



PUKMEDIA