Iraqi President Urges for Swift Parliamentary Action on Halabja Governorate Bill

Kurdistan 10:40 AM - 2024-09-02

the city of Halabja

President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid of Iraq requested the Acting Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, to include the draft legislation recognising Halabja as an official governorate in the parliament's agenda to guarantee that the law is promptly voted on and approved, in order to safeguard the interests of the people and show gratitude and devotion towards the Kurdish people who have suffered chemical attacks and Anfal.

 

Iraqi parliament should look into the governorship of Halabja

Ezadin Majid Mohammed, Deputy Head of the Office of the Iraqi Presidency, informed PUKMEDIA that the Iraqi President had written a letter to Mohsen Mandalawi, the Acting Speaker of the Iraqi parliament. The letter requests that Mandalawi include the Halabja Governorate Bill on the agenda of the council meetings in order to finalise the legal processes for the city's governorship.

He further said: "We call for the bill establishing Halabja as a province in parliament to undergo a parliamentary vote to safeguard the welfare of the people and demonstrate loyalty to the blood of martyrs and the Kurdish victims who endured chemical attacks and the Anfal campaign."

Ezadin Majid Mohammed also stated that President Rashid had earlier instructed the Kurdish parties to reach an agreement in the Iraqi parliament about the final vote on the governorship of Halabja.

 

PUK introduced the bill

Bafel Jalal Talabani, the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), recently visited Iraqi parties and urged their support for the PUK's request to expedite the process of provincialising Halabja. Based on the information obtained by PUKMEDIA, the Iraqi political parties have reached a consensus to endorse the process of granting provincial status to Halabja through their Members of Parliament.

Chro Hama Sharif, a parliamentarian from the PUK faction in Iraq, stated to PUKMEDIA that the PUK introduced the bill to designate Halabja as a province and that the PUK has exerted significant efforts in the past, resulting in the successful completion of the bill's first and second readings.

On March 13, 2024, the Iraqi Council of Ministers finalised the necessary steps to officially establish Halabja as the 19th province of Iraq. The bill is presently in the parliament, pending its third reading.

Upon the bill's ratification, Halabja will be designated as the 19th province in Iraq, officially expanding the Kurdistan Region by one province. From an administrative perspective, Halabja is currently comprised of the centre district of the city and four other districts: Khurmal, Byara, Bamo, and Sirwan. The Iraqi Ministry of Planning has formally sanctioned the geographical limits of Halabja province.

 

PUKMEDIA