Halabja Officially Recognized as Iraq’s 19th Province Following Presidential Approval

Peregraf

Iraqi President Abdul-Latif Rashid has formally endorsed the long-awaited legislation designating Halabja as Iraq’s 19th province, signifying a historic milestone for a city renowned for its painful history and steadfast perseverance. The law will be published in the official Iraqi Gazette, al-Waqi’i, next week and will take effect immediately upon publication.

The Iraqi Parliament ratified the bill on April 14, 2025, following years of postponement and persistent advocacy by Kurdish political blocs, which had submitted the proposal on four prior occasions without success. Their most recent tactic—a parliamentary boycott—effectively suspended legislative proceedings until the bill was ultimately approved.

With a population surpassing 120,000, Halabja encompasses the districts of Halabja, Khurmal, Biara, Sirwan, and Bamo. Although the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had acknowledged Halabja as a province since 2014, official recognition from the federal government in Baghdad had been delayed until now.

This decision fulfills a demand pursued for decades by the people of Halabja, a city forever marked by the horrific chemical assault perpetrated by Saddam Hussein’s regime on March 16, 1988, which resulted in the deaths of more than 5,000 civilians.

The formal acknowledgment not only serves as a tribute to the victims but also ensures enhanced services, rights, and political representation for Halabja’s residents as they anticipate a future of greater autonomy and development.