KRG suffers ‘great loss’ due to death of Erbil governor, says PM Barzani at 40-day memorial

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) suffered “a great loss” as a result of the death of former governor Firsat Sofi who died in late November after contracting the coronavirus, said Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday.

The remarks, reported in a KRG statement, came during a visit Barzani paid with a ministerial delegation to the Sofi's family in Erbil, commemorating the 40th day memorial of his passing.

“The KRG suffered a great loss due to the death of a talented, patriotic, and loyal personality like Dr. Firsat Sofi,” Barzani said as he sat down with the deceased's mother, wife, and children of the former governor.

Firsat Sofi passed away at 42 due to health complications from COVID-19 at a hospital in Ankara, Turkey, where he was receiving treatment.

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

Governor Sofi, the 41st governor of Erbil, was the head of the COVID-19 Task Force and led efforts to combat the pandemic since its emergence in the Kurdistan Region in early March. The city had the least number of cases in the region for a while before restrictions were eased and it witnessed an alarming surge in infections.

“Undoubtedly, the beautiful traits and stances of Dr. Firsat will live among us forever,” Prime Minister Barzani said.

In mid-October 2019, Sofi assumed the governorship of Erbil province after serving as a lawmaker in the Kurdistan Parliament. Sofi also used to be a lecturer at Erbil Polytechnic University.

He was born in 1978 in the Gazne district of Erbil and is now survived by four children.

When he was admitted to the hospital, his deputy, Hemn Qadir, assumed the governorship in his place.

Editing by John J. Catherine