Late governor Firsat Sofi's body received in ceremony at Erbil airport before final burial

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The body of the late governor of Erbil, Firsat Sofi, arrived in Erbil on Thursday and was received in a solemn ceremony held at the Erbil International Airport.

The reception ceremony for the governor’s body was attended by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Parliament Speaker Rewaz Faiq, Sulaimani Governor Haval Abu Bakr, Governor of Dohuk Ali Tatar, and other government officials and political, social, and cultural figures.

Sofi passed away at 42 due to health complications after he contracted COVID-19 in late October. He died in Ankara, Turkey, where he was receiving treatment there for 30 days after his health deteriorated due to the coronavirus. Following his death, his body was transported on a private plane to Erbil.

Sofi’s body will be buried in its final resting place at the “Sheikh Ahmed” cemetery in the city of Erbil.

Read More: Governor of Kurdistan Region’s capital Erbil dies from COVID-19 aged 42

Sofi was born in 1978 in the Choman district in the northern province of Erbil and holds a doctorate in law from Salahuddin University.

Sofi was a lecturer at the university before becoming a member of the Kurdistan Region Parliament for the Kurdistan Democratic Party.

In September 2019, the Erbil Governorate Council elected Sofi as governor of Erbil to succeed Nawzad Hadi, who held the position for 15 years.

The Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Interior, Reber Ahmed, delivered a speech on behalf of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. “Unfortunately, we are gathered today to bid farewell to an honest, loyal, and patriotic person, that is Firsat Sofi,” Ahmed stated, adding that the deceased “was a person close to the people, and carried out his duties seriously and fully.”

“Today, all of Kurdistan is sad about his departure, the loss of a great fortune,” Ahmed continued, stressing that “the late governor was a member of parliament and a well-known academic who was a source of hope for reform.”

The Minister of Interior indicated that “regardless of all problems and crises, Dr. Sofi used to address them, and he always tried to ensure that the repercussions of the coronavirus did not affect the working-class people.”

In his speech, on behalf of Prime Minister Barzani, Ahmed also said, “We in the regional government are witness that were beholden to your oath,” noting that Sofi’s “departure will leave a great void, especially in the reform project that the Kurdistan Regional Government started.”

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also delivered a speech during the ceremony, praising the role of the late governor of Erbil, and describing him as a “continuous giver.”

“Today, with a heart full of sadness, we receive the body of Dr. Sofi,” President Barzani said, adding that the deceased offered a lot during his life and was the model of integrity and transparency as he became loved by everyone with his good deeds.

Many diplomats present in the region praised the late governor of Erbil, presenting the deceased with a crown of roses at the ceremony.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany