Erbil Citadel Museum Preserves Memory of Mullah Mustafa Barzani’s 1959 Visit

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - A historic residence inside the ancient citadel of Erbil has been transformed into a heritage museum commemorating a 1959 visit by Kurdish leader Mullah Mustafa Barzani, preserving what residents describe as a lasting moment in the political and cultural memory of the city.

The building, now known as the “Barzani Heritage House,” stands within the historic walls of the Erbil Citadel, a site widely regarded as one of the most enduring symbols of the city’s historical continuity. Local residents who witnessed Barzani’s visit decades ago say the house has become a focal point for recalling that encounter and reflecting on its place in Kurdish collective memory.

According to accounts from residents who lived in the citadel at the time, the episode dates to 1959, when Barzani, who led the Kurdistan liberation movement, visited the citadel during a period of political mobilization among Kurds. Two childhood friends, Kanaan Mufti and Zakaria Abdel Fattah, were among the residents who recall the visit, although they were children at the time—nine and ten years old respectively.

The house that now serves as the heritage site was then the residence of Shamsuddin Mufti, a prominent figure in Erbil’s religious and social life. Residents describe the home during that period as an open gathering place that hosted community activities and discussions.

The initiative to convert the residence into a museum emerged later through a proposal by members of the Mufti family. According to accounts from those involved, the family of Rashad Mufti requested that the home be preserved as a site honoring Barzani’s historic visit and documenting the encounter between the Kurdish leader and residents of the citadel.

Mufti, who is also an archaeologist and a longtime resident of the citadel, said the house played an important role as a social and religious meeting place during the period in which Barzani visited. He described the event as an episode that reflected what he referred to as the “Era of Kurdayetî,” or the Kurdish national spirit.

“This house recorded the Era of Kurdayetî through its encounter with Mullah Mustafa Barzani,” Mufti said, recalling the atmosphere surrounding the visit.

For Abdel Fattah, the transformation of the residence into a museum has given lasting form to memories that might otherwise have faded over time. He said the building now stands as a physical reminder of the first meeting many residents had with Barzani.

Abdel Fattah said the story of that encounter has become “a living history vibrating within the walls of this place,” reflecting the enduring emotional and symbolic significance the visit holds for those who witnessed it.

Today, the building functions as a cultural and heritage site within the citadel complex. Local observers say the museum attracts visitors including tourists, researchers, and individuals interested in history and cultural studies.

The conversion of the home into a heritage center is intended to preserve the memory associated with the 1959 visit and to maintain a record of local experiences connected to Barzani’s presence in the city. Supporters of the project say the museum also aims to transmit historical memory and cultural identity to future generations.

Mufti said the historical significance of Barzani’s leadership during the Kurdistan liberation movement extended beyond politics, influencing social and cultural life across the region. According to Mufti, the memory of that influence is reflected not only in historical narratives but also in cultural and literary developments that followed.

“To understand the scale of this historic influence,” Mufti said, “one can look back at the cultural and literary movement in Kurdistan, which served as a beam of light continuously illuminating the path of the Kurdistan liberation movement.”

Mufti added that many writers and cultural figures drew inspiration from leaders who, in his words, defended Kurdish identity and existence. He said the resonance of those experiences continues to shape how historical figures are remembered within the region’s cultural landscape.

The preservation of sites connected to key moments in Kurdish history has become part of broader efforts within the citadel to maintain historical continuity and protect architectural heritage. The citadel itself, situated at the center of Erbil, has long served as both a residential area and a repository of historical landmarks.

Within that setting, the Barzani Heritage House stands as a specific reminder of a moment that local residents say connected the citadel’s community with a central figure in Kurdish political history.

For residents who remember the visit, the museum represents more than the preservation of a building. Instead, they describe it as a repository of lived experiences and personal recollections that have gradually been incorporated into the wider historical narrative of the city.

As visitors move through the citadel today, the house continues to serve as a place where those memories are documented and shared, linking the physical heritage of the citadel with stories preserved by the people who lived there.

Residents say the goal of maintaining the site is to ensure that those experiences remain accessible to future generations, allowing the story of Barzani’s 1959 visit to remain part of the historical record associated with the citadel.