PM:05:39:14/04/2025
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BAGHDAD – April 14, 2025 – The Iraqi parliament on Monday officially passed a bill recognizing Halabja as Iraq’s 19th province, marking a historic moment for the Kurdish region.
The bill, which consists of four articles along with an explanation of its legal justification, was approved in a session attended by the majority of lawmakers.
Following the vote, Arian Tawgozi, a member of the New Generation Movement in the Iraqi parliament, welcomed the decision and expressed his happiness over the long-awaited recognition of Halabja’s provincial status.
"This is a great day for the people of Halabja,” Tawgozi said. "We have fought hard for this, and the passing of this bill is a victory for justice and recognition.”
Tawgozi also revealed that the New Generation Movement has submitted another bill, currently under review by the parliament’s Legal Committee, that aims to recognize the chemical attack on Halabja in 1988 as an act of genocide.
"We must not forget the Anfal campaign. Anfal and Halabja are part of the same tragedy,” he said. "As the New Generation Movement, we remain committed to supporting the families of the victims and to securing official recognition of these crimes.”
He added that his faction is putting pressure on the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) to allocate a special budget for Halabja as a new province.
Tawgozi noted that the New Generation Movement had previously submitted 17 letters to the Iraqi parliament in support of Halabja’s provincial status.
Halabja, the site of a devastating chemical attack in 1988 that killed thousands of civilians, has long sought provincial recognition. Monday’s decision marks a significant step toward acknowledging the city’s suffering and future development