‘Trump Fish’ restaurant opened in Kurdistan for 'three reasons'

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – A Kurdish man recently opened a restaurant called ‘Trump Fish’ in the Kurdistan Region, and offered three reasons for his choice.

Following the victory of Donald Trump in the US Presidential Election, the name has become a household name in the Kurdistan Region.

[A Kurdish restaurant in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Dec 8, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24)]

Trump restaurant in the Province of Duhok has drawn the attention of a large crowd.

There are three main reasons for naming the restaurant Donald Trump, the owner of the restaurant told Kurdistan24 on Thursday.

“First, I personally like Trump,” he continued. “Second, he has expressed support for the Peshmerga forces in the presidential election campaigns.”

[The owner of Trump Fish Restaurant in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Dec 8, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24)]

Previously in an interview with New York Times, the US President-elect Donald Trump stated, “I’m a big fan of the Kurdish forces.”

Shortly after the quote was largely spread in the Kurdish media.

Trump did lose some popularity after he praised the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein and downgraded the Kurdish genocide by saying "so he threw a little gas," referring to the chemical gas attack of a Kurdish city during which an estimated 5000 people lost their lives right away.

To this day, numerous Kurds suffer birth defects and other side effects of a brutal mass killing which Trump referred to as throwing "a little gas."  

Though the name Donald Trump is known around the world and in Kurdistan Region as well, he is not necessarily the most popular politician. 

But Kurds who have suffered tremendous tragedies rely on their extensive sense of humor to survive hardship.

Regarding the third reason, the owner added, “The name Trump is very common all around the world.”

Time's magazine recently called Donald J. Trump, "Person of the Year," a name given to Hitler at one point.

Azad Salim is one of the clients of the restaurant and he told Kurdistan24 that he was surprised to see this name selected for the place.

“I often cross this neighborhood. Today, I was surprised to see Trump’s name on this new restaurant and wanted to check it out,” Salim said.

Ahmed Jawhar is another resident in the area who mentioned the fact that Kurds often call objects, mostly cars, with the name of national and international celebrities or leaders around the world.

Jawhar mentioned that for example Chevrolet Camaro is called Obama in the Kurdistan Region.

“In Kurdistan, when you say I will buy an Obama, almost everyone knows that you mean Chevrolet Camaro,” he concluded.

Editing by Ava Homa
(Islam Zakhoyi contributed to this report)