Law Establishing Halabja Province Officially Comes into Effect

ARK News.. The Iraqi Official Gazette (Al-Waqa’i Al-Iraqiya) has published the law establishing Halabja as a new province, marking its official entry into force.

The move follows the ratification of the law by Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, who also issued a presidential decree formally approving the province’s creation.

Following the president’s endorsement, the law was submitted to the Ministry of Justice and subsequently published in the country’s official gazette.

The Iraqi Parliament had approved the draft law on April 14, 2025, during a regular session, designating Halabja as Iraq’s 19th province and the fourth officially recognized province within the Kurdistan Region, alongside Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had originally announced the formation of Halabja province in June 2013, with the city of Halabja as its administrative center. The province encompasses the districts of Halabja, Sharbajer, Penjwin, and Said Sadiq, all of which were previously part of Sulaymaniyah Province.

On March 13, 2023, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani announced the Cabinet’s approval of the draft law to establish Halabja as a province and its referral to Parliament for a vote.

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