PM:10:29:30/09/2025
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The Sulaimanyah Nature and Property Protection Board (SNPRB) has strongly condemned the Iraqi government’s decision to rename Sulaimanyah International Airport after the late President Jalal Talabani, describing it as a "major violation.”
In a statement issued Tuesday, the board said that such a move cannot be made unilaterally by "a party organization belonging to the Talabani family” without consultation with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), parliament, or local authorities in Sulaimanyah.
The SNPRB emphasized that the airport belongs to all of Sulaimanyah’s residents, not to a single political party or leader. "The history of Sulaimanyah is 241 years old and is greater than the legacy of any one person,” the statement read, underscoring the city’s reputation as a cultural and political hub of Kurdistan.
The board further warned that allowing this step to go forward could pave the way for future institutions and public services to be renamed after political figures without community input.
"We demand and insist that the name of Sulaimanyah International Airport remain unchanged,” the board concluded, calling on both the KRG and the Iraqi government to respect the city’s identity and history.