Brave act of young hero gone too soon immortalized as symbol of Kurdish hospitality by KRG
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s Tourism Committee honored the memory of a Kurdish man who drowned in a failed attempt to rescue an Iraqi tourist on Sunday by making him the “Symbol of [Kurdish] Hospitality.”
Jabar Osman Said, 19, drowned in the Choman River in Erbil’s Balakayati area after he attempted to rescue Zahra Hashim, an Iraqi woman who came as a tourist from Baghdad to the Kurdistan Region, along with her family during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Tourism Committee extended their sincere condolences to the families of Hashim and Said, urging tourists to follow the instructions of Civil Defense teams and the Tourism Committee when visiting certain areas.
Officials also cautioned that tourists should stay clear of areas that are not sanctioned by the Tourism Committee, as unexploded ordnances from previous wars, strong rivers, and rock slides can put their lives at risk.
“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,” the statement continued.
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“As the female tourist was swept by the river, while her sons were present, 19-year-old Jabar [Said] sacrificed his life to save her. This incident shows that serving and protecting the lives of guests from any threats have been a special feature of the Kurdish community, and it has always been reflected in Kurdish culture.”
The Tourism Committee affirmed Said would be honored as “a symbol of hospitality and respect to tourists” and that a tourism training center in Erbil would be named after the young man who risked his life to save a complete stranger.
During the Eid al-Fitr holiday, thousands of Iraqi tourists visit the Kurdistan Region, 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 the central and southern provinces of Iraq. Others also come from Iran as well as Europe.
Editing by Nadia Riva
