Fifth Attempt to Approve Halabja Governate Status: 'No Guarantees, But Hopes Are High'
Peregraf- Sangar Salar
For the fifth time, the bill to elevate Halabja to a governorate has been included in the agenda of the Iraqi Parliament. While there are no guarantees of its approval, and Kurdish political blocs remain skeptical of promises from Shiite and Sunni factions, several factors have raised hopes that Monday, 14 April 2025 might finally realize the long-awaited dream of Halabja’s residents.
After four failed attempts to pass the bill—blocked each time by Shiite and Sunni factions—Kurdish blocs resorted to boycotting parliamentary sessions, refusing to attend unless the Halabja bill was addressed. This led to a weeks-long paralysis in legislative proceedings.
Although a session was scheduled last week, disagreements among factions—particularly over the Halabja bill—prevented it from taking place. Now, a new session has been set for Monday, 14 April, with the Halabja bill placed as the first item on the agenda.
Kurdish Blocs: Cautious Optimism Amid Distrust
Soran Omar, head of the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) bloc in the Iraqi Parliament, told Pargraf: “We have exhausted all efforts and held discussions with Shiite and Sunni factions. We hope the bill passes this time, but there are no absolute guarantees—past betrayals have eroded our trust.”
As Omar noted, Shiite and Sunni blocs have repeatedly pledged support for the bill, only to backtrack under various pretexts when voting time arrived.
The Halabja governorate bill underwent its first reading in April 2023 and its second reading in May 2023. It was then scheduled for voting on 19 September 2023 and 30 September 2023 but was rejected by Shiite and Sunni blocs. After further delays, it was reintroduced twice this year (on 25 March and 26 March) but was again blocked.
Pressure Tactics and Conditional Support
Aryan Tawgozi, a member of the New Generation bloc, stated: “There is no guarantee the session will even occur, let alone that the bill will secure enough votes. However, several factors give us hope.”
Tawgozi pointed out that Shiite and Sunni blocs have demanded the inclusion of another bill—the First Amendment to the Ministry of Education Law—as a condition for their participation, likely due to recent teacher protests in Iraq. This, he argued, increases the likelihood of quorum being met on Monday.
Another source of optimism is the Kurdish blocs’ continued boycott strategy. Tawgozi emphasized: “If the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) maintain their stance—refusing to attend any parliamentary session until Halabja’s status is approved—it could pressure other factions into passing the bill.”
Background and Legislative Process
The Halabja governorate bill was approved by the Iraqi Council of Ministers on 13 March 2023 and subsequently sent to Parliament. This followed an assessment by Iraq’s Ministry of Planning, which confirmed Halabja’s eligibility for governorate status based on administrative and demographic criteria.
The bill consists of four articles:
1. Article 1: Establishes Halabja as Iraq’s 19th governorate, with Halabja city as its capital.
2. Article 2: Tasks the KRG Council of Ministers with defining the governorate’s administrative boundaries.
3. Article 3: Obliges relevant authorities to implement the law.
4. Article 4: States the law takes effect upon publication in Iraq’s Official Gazette (Al-Waqa'i Al-Iraqiya).
Political Maneuvering and Compromises
Karwan Yarweis, a PUK bloc MP, revealed that PUK leader Bafel Talabani recently held talks in Baghdad to secure cross-party support. “As the PUK bloc, we’ve negotiated with our allies in Iraqi factions to ensure the bill’s passage this time,” he said.
Yarweis confirmed that some Iraqi blocs demanded the education bill’s inclusion in Monday’s agenda—a condition now met, raising hopes for quorum.
Halabja’s Significance and Future Prospects
Halabja, with an estimated population of over 120,000, is currently a district within the Kurdistan Region. Its elevation to governorate status would grant it greater administrative autonomy, increased federal funding, and symbolic recognition of its tragic history—particularly the 16 March 1988 chemical attack that killed thousands.
According to maps obtained by Pargraf, Iraq’s Ministry of Planning has proposed the following administrative boundaries for Halabja Governorate:
- Center: Halabja District
- Subdistricts: Khurmal, Biyara, Sirwan, and Bamou
While Kurdish blocs remain cautiously hopeful, the bill’s fate hinges on whether Shiite and Sunni factions honor their pledges—a prospect that, given past experience, remains uncertain.