College of Humanities, Department of History held a workshop on the preserving Heritage in keeping the History of a city alive on 1st of March,2022.

The attendees of the workshop were Mr. Azad Tofiq, Governor of Halabja, Prof. Dr. Mahabad Kamil, UoH president, Ms. Nukhsha Nasih, Mayor, Mr. Nariman Abdullah, Dean of College of Humanities and a number of students and lecturers. The key speakers of the workshop were Lecturer Mr. Abdulraqib Yousif and Mr. Adil Sdiq, in which they discussed about the Halabja historical and cultural heritage, they said it is necessary to preserve the old houses in Halabja in order to preserve cultural heritage. Mr. Abdulraqib who is an expertise in cultural heritage/archeology said that since 1972 World Heritage Convention has adopted, The Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which said, archaeological sites and items: settlement areas(in particular, old town and village cores; designed natural and cultural landscape areas; buildings, parts of buildings and groups of buildings which are a testimony to artistic, historical and technical development…., should be preserved ,not to be destroyed and should be kept as they are as those historic sites are the identity of the cities and built based on the city’s old plan, they should be saved from demolishing and destruction.

He pointed out to the number of Halabja old streets and reiterated that this old houses and historical sites should be preserved, conserved and protected at the aim of keeping the history of Halabja alive. He further added that if a tourists or foreigner will visit Kurdistan, he doesn’t like to see 20 stories buildings, in contrary, he would like or interested to see historical sites and old houses which are handmade by the locals and which symbolize where people lived and how they lived.

To see the workshop announcement, click here.