Sulaimani airport to be renamed Jalal Talabani airport

BAGHDAD,— Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Transport Minister Razzaq al-Saadawi have approved a request to rename the Sulaimaniyah international airport in Sulaimani province in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region after the late Kurdish leader and former Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, officials said Tuesday.

Maytham al-Safi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport, told state media that the two leaders agreed to change the name of Sulaimaniyah International Airport to Jalal Talabani International Airport. He said the decision will take effect once final procedures are completed.

The move follows a formal request submitted by the President Jalal Talabani Foundation, which has pushed for the change over the last four years. The foundation said the renaming honors Talabani’s political legacy and his decades of service to both Kurds and Iraqis.

Ambassador Mohammed Sabir, who heads the foundation, welcomed the decision. “President Mam Jalal, like other great leaders, deserves to be remembered in every possible way. Naming Sulaimaniyah International Airport after him is a modest tribute to his historic struggle and lasting achievements,” he said.

Sabir added that relevant instructions have already been circulated to the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority and airports nationwide. A public ceremony will be held once the paperwork is finalized.

Sabir described the renaming as part of a broader effort to preserve Talabani’s role in modern Iraqi history. “This ensures that Mam Jalal’s name will live on, just as other countries commemorate their leaders through national landmarks,” he said.

Sulaimaniyah International Airport, Sulaimani city, Iraqi Kurdistan 2010s. Photo: SIA

Sulaimaniyah International Airport was inaugurated in July 2005 by Talabani himself. Construction of the airport began in 2003, with the facility built over 13.5 square kilometers.

It was formally recognized by international aviation organizations later in 2005. Although located in the Kurdistan Region, the airport is overseen by Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority.

The President Jalal Talabani Foundation describes itself as an independent, non-profit institution that documents and promotes Talabani’s life and contributions.

Local Opposition Emerges

Not everyone welcomed the decision by the Iraqi Prime Minister and Transport Minister. The Sulaimanyah Nature and Property Protection Board released a statement on Tuesday calling the renaming a “serious violation” that ignores local opinion.

According to the board, the airport belongs to the residents of Sulaimanyah and cannot be claimed by any political family or party. The group argued that the city’s 241-year-old history is “greater than the legacy of any one person.”

The statement criticized what it described as unilateral action by an organization tied to the Talabani family. It urged both the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central authorities in Baghdad to preserve the existing name.

“We insist that Sulaimaniyah International Airport remain unchanged, and we warn against setting a precedent where public institutions are renamed without community approval,” the board said.

Some critics also noted that Kurdistan’s history includes many other prominent personalities whose names could equally be chosen for such landmarks.

They warned the move might trigger further renamings across the region, saying Erbil International Airport could one day be renamed Mustafa Barzani Airport and Duhok Airport might carry the name of Massoud Barzani. Opponents said such steps risk turning public facilities into symbols of party politics rather than collective heritage.

Talabani’s Legacy

Jalal Talabani, who served as the sixth president of Iraq from 2005 to 2014. Photo: U.S. Department of Defense/defence.gov/2005

Jalal Talabani, known popularly as Mam Jalal, was born in 1933 and became one of the most influential Kurdish leaders of the 20th century. He co-founded the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in 1975 after years of political activism, including his early involvement with the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Kurdistan Students Union.

Talabani joined the armed struggle in the 1960s and played a central role in the Kurdish resistance movement. After the collapse of the Kurdish revolution in 1975, he helped consolidate Kurdish political forces under the newly formed PUK.

Following the 1991 Uprising, Talabani was a leading negotiator with Baghdad and was instrumental in the establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government after the 1992 elections. His advocacy for federalism later shaped the framework of Iraq’s post-Saddam governance.

After the 2003 U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath government, Talabani was elected as Iraq’s president in 2005. He became the first Kurd and first non-Arab to hold the office, serving until 2014. His reputation as a mediator earned him the respect of Iraq’s diverse political and religious groups. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani once described him as “Iraq’s safety valve.”

Talabani died in 2017 after years of health complications. He remains a symbol of Kurdish aspirations and national reconciliation.

The renaming of Sulaimaniyah International Airport by the Prime Minister and Transport Minister has now reignited debate over how his legacy should be honored, with supporters viewing the change as long overdue recognition and critics warning against personalizing public infrastructure.

(With files from PUKmedia | NRT TV | Rudaw)