Shafaq News/ Kurdish PresidentNechirvan Barzani on Monday welcomed Iraq’s recognition of Halabja as thecountry’s 19th province, calling it the culmination of long-standing Kurdishefforts to honor the city’s legacy.
“Today’s decision by the Iraqi Councilof Representatives to designate Halabja as an official province is a source ofpride and joy for all of us in Kurdistan,” Barzani said in a statement.
The move, he emphasized, should pavethe way for reconstruction and improved public services. “This is aresponsibility we all share, and we must fulfill it with dedication.”
Halabja, the site of a 1988 chemicalattack that killed thousands of civilians during Saddam Hussein’s rule, haslong stood as a symbol of Kurdish suffering and resilience. Iraq’s parliamentapproved the province’s new status earlier on Monday by majority vote.
