Masoud Barzani: Sacrifice of drowned Kurd proof of Kurdish people’s humanity

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Masoud Barzani, has expressed his condolences to the family of a young Kurdish man who died on Sunday in an attempt to save a drowning Iraqi woman.

“On this painful occasion, we pay tribute to the family of the young man for the sacrifice he made for our people,” Barzani said, according to a letter published on his website on Monday.

The former Kurdistan Region President described the loss of the young man’s life as a “rare incident,” adding it was “proof of the humanity of the Kurdish people and their readiness to sacrifice” themselves for the sake of their guests.

On Sunday, 19-year-old Jabar Osman Said rushed to rescue Zahra Hashim, an Iraqi tourist who was visiting the Kurdistan Region from Baghdad along with her family during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Unfortunately, Said drowned along with Hashim despite his attempts to save her. The incident occurred in a river in the village of Barsin near the town of Rwanduz.

Following the tragic event, the Kurdistan Region’s Tourism Committee honored the memory of the Kurdish man by making him the “Symbol of [Kurdish] Hospitality.”

“The drowning of a Kurdistan Region citizen while trying to rescue a tourist is a unique case, full of humanity and demonstrating respect for our guests and tourists,” a statement by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Tourism Committee said.

Kurdistan is a popular destination for thousands of Iraqis during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. The Region is known for being safe, having cooler temperatures, and plenty of tourist destinations among its rich natural landscape.

Most tourists visiting the semi-autonomous region come from central and southern provinces of Iraq. Others also come from Iran as well as Europe.