ERBIL — Iraqi President Latif Rashid has formally requested the Speaker of Parliament to prioritize the vote on making Halabja a province, emphasizing the need for justice and recognition for the victims of the chemical attacks and genocide that devastated the city.

In a letter addressed to acting Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi, Rashid called for the bill to be included on the parliamentary agenda as soon as possible. He stressed the importance of holding a second reading of the bill to elevate Halabja to provincial status and subsequently putting it to a vote for final approval.

Although the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) initially decided to make Halabja a province on March 13, 2014, the matter was not resolved at the federal level until this year.

In 2015, the issue was presented to the Iraqi Council of Ministers under then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, but the bill remained stagnant. It was not until March 13, 2023, that the current Iraqi cabinet under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani approved the bill and forwarded it to the Iraqi parliament.

On April 2, 2023, the Iraqi parliament conducted the first reading of the bill, with a second reading following on May 4, 2023. The bill, comprising four articles, seeks to address the growing population and development needs of Halabja, alongside the enduring legacy of the chemical attacks.

It outlines that Halabja will become Iraq's 19th province, falling within the administrative boundaries of the Kurdistan Region, with Halabja city serving as the provincial capital.

Article 2 of the bill specifies that the KRG, in coordination with the Iraqi Ministry of Planning, will delineate the administrative boundaries and units of Halabja province. The legislation also mandates cooperation between the KRG and the federal government to implement the law and officially recognize Halabja as a province.

Halabja, located southeast of Sulaimaniyah city, consists of the districts of Sirwan, Khurmal, Biara, and Bamo. The city gained international attention on March 16, 1988, when it was targeted in a chemical weapons attack by the former Iraqi regime, resulting in the deaths of 5,000 Kurdish civilians and injuries to thousands more. Despite its tragic history, the city's residents have yet to receive adequate compensation for the devastation they endured.