Chemical Gas Could Not Kill Their Spirit: Halabja Becomes Iraq's 19th Province

By Kamaran Aziz

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — In a landmark development steeped in historical significance, Iraq's President Latif Rashid officially signed into law the establishment of Halabja as the country's 19th province on Tuesday morning, April 29, 2025. The move marks a long-awaited recognition of Halabja's identity, decades after the city's profound suffering during the notorious chemical attack of 1988.

Following the President's signature, the law will now be forwarded to Iraq's Ministry of Justice for formal publication in the country's official gazette, Waqai.

According to Amanj Rahim, Secretary of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Council of Ministers, the law is scheduled to be published next Monday, May 5, 2025, at which point Halabja will officially be recognized as Iraq’s newest province.

"On Monday of next week, 05-05-2025, the law establishing Halabja as a province will be published in Iraq's official gazette (Waqai), and from that day, Halabja will officially become the 19th province of Iraq," Rahim announced in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.

The milestone comes after the Iraqi Parliament’s approval of the bill on April 14, 2025, following years of advocacy by Kurdish and Halabja officials who have long demanded full provincial status for the city—both as a symbol of dignity for its people and as a practical step toward receiving rightful administrative, developmental, and financial entitlements.

Nukhsha Nasih, the acting Governor of Halabja, earlier told Kurdistan24 that the recognition would be far more than symbolic. She emphasized that after the law's publication, administrative coordination would commence with the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Ministry of Interior, and relevant ministries to ensure Halabja receives its due financial allocations and compensation rights.

"We will take immediate administrative measures to secure all financial rights and entitlements related to compensation and increased salaries for the families of martyrs, as well as the broader development of Halabja province," Nasih affirmed.

Halabja, a name that evokes both deep tragedy and enduring resilience, is forever etched in history due to the catastrophic chemical weapons attack carried out by Saddam Hussein's regime in March 1988. The atrocity claimed the lives of more than 5,000 civilians, predominantly women and children, and left lasting scars on the survivors and the region as a whole.

Since the fall of Saddam's regime in 2003, various efforts have been made to honor the sacrifices of Halabja's people and ensure the city’s proper place within Iraq's political and administrative framework. The formal designation as a province is seen as a vital step toward rectifying past injustices and paving the way for new opportunities in governance, infrastructure, and economic development.

Halabja’s new status will also unlock additional budgetary support from Baghdad, enabling much-needed reconstruction projects, investment in healthcare, education, and public services, and the fulfillment of long-standing promises to the families of martyrs and victims.

The decision to elevate Halabja to provincial status has been met with widespread celebration among the Kurdish people and human rights advocates, who view it as a long-overdue affirmation of Halabja's place in Iraq's national fabric.

As the nation prepares for the law’s formal publication and the province's official activation, many see this moment as a testament to perseverance, justice, and the enduring spirit of Halabja’s people—a people who have transformed immense suffering into a catalyst for recognition and hope.