Peregraf- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani has issued a directive to rename Sulaymaniyah International Airport as Jalal Talabani International Airport, honoring the late Iraqi President and Kurdish leader.
The decision came at the request of the Jalal Talabani Foundation, an organization founded by the Talabani family. According to the Prime Minister’s media office, the move reflects “deep appreciation for President Jalal Talabani’s historic role and his lifelong struggle against the former dictatorial regime.”
The renaming, however, has stirred mixed reactions in Sulaymaniyah. While some welcome the recognition of Talabani’s legacy, others argue that the airport should continue to carry the city’s name.
The announcement coincides with the eighth anniversary of Talabani’s death. He passed away in 2017 after serving as Iraq’s first Kurdish president from 2005 to 2014 and playing a pivotal role in the country’s post-Saddam political landscape.