Halabja
—  city  —
Monument to the victims of the 1988 gas attack
Nickname(s): Shehîdî Kurdistan
Country	Iraq

Halabja (Kurdish: هه‌ڵه‌بجه‎ Helebce), is a Kurdish town in Northern Iraq, located about 150 miles (240 km) north-east of Baghdad and 8–10 miles from the Iranian border.

The town lies at the base of what is often referred to as the greater Hewraman region stretching across the Iran-Iraq border. The Kurds in the city of Halabja generally speak only the Sorani dialect of Kurdish, but some residents of the surrounding villages speak the Hewrami dialect.

History[link]

Early history[link]

Halabja has a long history. The cemetery includes the tombs of several historical figures, such as Ahmed Mukhtar Jaf, Tayar Bag Jaf and Adila Khanim. In August 2009, three 17th century tombs were discovered in the Ababile district of the town.^[1]

This suggests that the town is somewhat older than indicated by some sources, which claim that it was built by the Ottoman Empire circa 1850. However, modern developments date from the early 20th century. The post office opened in 1924 and the first school opened the following year. The Qaysari Pasha and Hamid Bag bazaars were built in 1932. Electricity did not reach the city until 1940.^[2]

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were many British soldiers stationed in Halabja. During World War I, Adela Khanum saved the lives of several British soldiers, resulting in the British honouring her with the title Khan Bahadur, Princess of the Brave. She was also responsible for the building of a new prison, setting up a court of justice, of which she was the first president and building a new bazaar.^[3]

Chemical attack[link]

The Kurdish peshmerga guerrillas, supported by Iran, liberated Halabja in the final phase of the Iran-Iraq War. On March 16, 1988, after two days of conventional artillery attacks, Iraqi planes dropped gas canisters on the town.^[4] The town and surrounding district were attacked with bombs, artillery fire, and chemical weapons, the latter of which proved most devastating. At least 5,000 people died as an immediate result of the chemical attack and it is estimated that a further 7,000 people were injured or suffered long term illness.^[5] Most of the victims of the attack on the town of Halabja were Kurdish civilians.^[6]

The attack is believed to have included the nerve agents Tabun, Sarin, and VX, as well as mustard gas. It is occasionally suggested that cyanide was also included among these chemical weapons, though this assertion has been cast into doubt, as cyanide is a natural byproduct of impure Tabun.^[7][8][9] The attack on Halabja took place amidst the infamous Anfal campaign, in which Saddam Hussein violently suppressed Kurdish revolts during the Iran-Iraq war. Saddam Hussein ordered the use of chemical weapons in attacking up to 24 villages in Kurdish areas in April 1987.

Before the war ended the Iraqis moved in on the ground and completely destroyed the town.^[10] In March 2010, the Iraqi High Criminal Court recognized the Halabja massacre as genocide; the decision was welcomed by the Kurdistan Regional Government.^[11]

Kurdish autonomy[link]

In the mountains to the west of Halabja, a militant Islamist group, Ansar al-Islam, occupied a small enclave in the period of 2000-2003. The area was overrun by Peshmerga forces from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), with U.S. air support, at the beginning of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Just before Kurds gained some autonomy over the Iraqi Kurdistan region in 1991, which included Halabja, a new town was set up where some former Kurdish refugees later relocated. The new town called Halabja Taza (or New Hlabja) today has an estimated 9,000 homes.^[12]

The Kurdistan Regional Government made some concentrated reconstruction efforts after 2003 in the old town and began rebuilding some of the bombed-out homes in Halabja, and paving new roads. A memorial was also constructed for the victims of the chemical attacks. However, residents of Halabja have complained about the continued lack of basic services and necessities.^[13] On the 2006 anniversary of the gas attack, violent demonstrations erupted in Halabja. An estimated 7,000 demonstrators protested against priorities in reconstruction, claiming that officials were not sincerely addressing the problems of the gas attack victims. Road blocks were set up and the gas attack memorial museum was set afire. Police fired at protesters killing one 14-year old boy and wounding many others.^[14]

Halabja today[link]

In 2008, plans were announced to construct an international airport for the town.^[15]

See also[link]

• Dujail
• Halabja poison gas attack
• Human rights in Saddam's Iraq
• Trial of Saddam Hussein

References[link]

External links[link]

• Iraq Image - Halabja Satellite Observation
• The Kurdistani on the 2006 riots

Coordinates: 35°11′N 45°59′E / 35.183°N 45.983°E / 35.183; 45.983

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Adnan Karim
Background information
Birth name	Adnan Karim
Born	1963 Kirkuk, Taamim, Kurdistan
Origin	Sulaymaniyah, As Sulaymani, Iraqi Kurdistan
Genres	Classical Kurdish
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Oud
Years active	1979 - Present
Website	www.adnankarim.com
Notable instruments
Barbat (Kurdish Oud)

Adnan Karim (Kurdish: عه‌دنان كه‌ریم) (born 1963) is a prominent Kurdish singer from Kirkuk, Iraq.

He was born in 1963 in Kirkuk, an ancient and oil rich city in Kurdistan, with a significant Kurdish minority. Although coming from a financially challenged family, he received a high level of education. The first Iraq war and the rise of sectarian violence forced the family to flee Kirkuk and settle in Sulaimani in the heartland of today's Kurdish autonomous area within Iraq.

Adnan continued his educational path in Sulaimani and graduated as an artist. He grew up with his family in an environment rich with culture. During his early teenage years he was exposed to Kurdish traditional music and story telling. Over the years, famous Kurdish musicians influenced him when developing his musical talent.

Adnan Karim's first public performance as a musical artist was as early as 1979. The authenticity of Adnan's style is admired especially by Kurdish people due to the purity of his traditional melodies and the absence of particularly modern elements. The genuine sound of his compositions is rounded up by the harmony between lyrics, sound, and the choice of musical instruments. Audiences get a genuine feeling of the deep and melancholic message delivered by the songs. His soft, deep voice is accompanied by oriental instruments which are deep rooted in Kurdish music.

Threatened by Saddam Hussein's regime and the attacks on Kurdish people in the 1990s, Adnan's family chose to go into exile to Sweden in 1992. He continued to work on his particular style even while in exile, enrolling in specialised courses. Today, Adnan's music is appreciated both in the Middle East (specifically the Kurdish areas in various countries across the region) and parts of Europe.

Adnan Karim uses first and foremost Kurdish classical poetry which stretches back to the 17th century. His much-loved and well known poets like: MEWLEWI, MAHWI, NALI, SALIM, etc. His singing in different Kurdish dialects with an excellent prosody (patterns of sound and beats in poetry) so that every one who listens to him can be caught up in provincial feeling so the listeners accepts him as one of their local singers.

He prefers to sing accompanied by different instruments with different sounds. He composes his own music and often plays the instruments himself.

Adnan Kerim has up to now taken part in many culture and international arrangements. In the year 2000, Adnan, together with a few musicians, had a successful and much talked about concert in the famous concert hall in Stockholm.

He also performed with Living Fire Ensemble in Gothenburg on 02.12.06 and in Stockholm on 02.12.07.

His sounds are released on CD or a cassettes and it has the following titles:

Birtan ekem-Raz-, Lawiki Helebce (longing after your secret). Cassette.

Shewi Yelda, (the long night) CD.

Eroy oxer(farewell) CD.

Shiney ba (the whisper of the wind) CD.

Live in concert 2002 Stockholm (living fire ensemble) CD.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Bîrtan Dekem (1993)
• Raz (1995)
• Şewî Yelda (1996)
• Eroy Oxîr (1999)
• Shînî Ba (2002)
• Live Consert (2002)
• Tavgeyek le Ishq (2004)
• Emshow (Tonight) (2006)
• Wefayi (2010)

See also[link]

• Kurdish music
• Kurdish people
• List of Kurdish musical artists

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website
• KRG Brussels showcases Kurdish cinema and music