PHOTOS: Iraqi politicians’ Kurdish doppelgängers receive fame, attention

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A Kurdish man from Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, resembles a striking similarity to Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri, despite both of them belonging to different ethnic groups.

Rizgar Kakarosh, a Kurdish language teacher from the city of Taq Taq, 90 kilometers southeast of Erbil, has received a lot of attention and recognition for his identical features to the Iraqi politician.

When Kakarosh walks the street of his hometown, many people stop and stare while some gather around to take selfies with him.

The Kurdish language teacher admitted that he resembles Jabouri, who is a Sunni Arab from Diyala Province, adding people have told him he is “an exact replica.”

“In the wake of an offensive attack [by the Iraqi army], many displaced people in my town would ask me if I was actually Salim al-Jabouri,” Kakarosh told Kurdistan 24, adding that he assured them he was not the Iraqi Parliament Speaker.

In November, Kurdistan 24 visited another man in Erbil who looks like Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Nuri Ismail, 53-years-old, said he was exposed to a lot of jokes, whether in his hometown or other places.

“Many Kurds and Arabs take pictures with me because of the resemblance between Abadi and me,” he told Kurdistan 24. “It is normal. I am happy to introduce pleasure in the hearts of people.”

Despite his identical features to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Ismail said he is not interested in politics but called on Abadi to protect the rights of all components in the country, especially the people of Kurdistan.