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Nuxsha Nasih
Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1978) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nuxsha Nasih Ahmed (also spelled Nukhsha[1] in English; نوخشە ناسح ئەحمەد [ˈnʊxʃæ ˈnɑːsɪħ ˈæħmæd]; referred to as Nuxshe Nasih or Nuxshe Naseh, born 1978) is an Iraqi Kurdish politician who serves as the Acting Governor of Halabja since 2025. She previously served as Mayor of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan from 2016. She is the second woman to be appointed to the most prominent political office in Halabja after Lady Adela and the first woman to serve as governor in Iraq's history.
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Early life and education
Nuxsha Nasih was born in 1978 in Halabja, Iraqi Kurdistan, during the Ba'athist Iraq period. She received a law degree and trained as a lawyer before entering politics.
Political career
Early positions
Prior to her appointment as Mayor, Nasih served as director of the Biyara sub-district on the border with Iran from 2008 to 2015. In this role, she gained experience in cross-border relations and administrative governance.
Mayor of Halabja
Nasih was appointed Mayor of Halabja on 27 March 2016 following the victory of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in the 2014 local elections.[2] The Kurdish news service Rudaw noted that she was the second woman to hold the top office in Halabja, the first being Lady Adela (Adela Khanum), who served as "the effective mayor of the town from 1909 until her death in 1924."[2]
Commenting on her appointment, Nasih stated: "Appointing women to senior positions is nothing new in Halabja. The educated people of the city have always supported this idea."[3]
Her appointment was supported by Hero Ibrahim Ahmad, the former First Lady of Iraq and wife of PUK leader Jalal Talabani.[2][4]
Acting Governor of Halabja
On 19 March 2025, Nasih was appointed Acting Governor of Halabja, becoming the first woman to hold this position in Iraq's history and marking a significant step toward gender inclusion in Iraqi provincial leadership.[5]
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Policy initiatives
Cross-border relations
As mayor, Nasih worked with officials in the neighbouring Iranian Kurdish province of Kermanshah to officially recognize two border crossings connecting the regions. Iran aimed to export electricity to the Kurdistan region through Halabja during her tenure.[6]
Environmental initiatives
Nasih launched the 'Green City Halabja' campaign to end the use of plastic bags in the city, demonstrating her commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.[7]
International advocacy
In 2019, Nasih spoke at George Washington University in Washington DC about the legacy of the genocidal Al-Anfal Campaign and the Halabja massacre , in which Saddam Hussein killed thousands of civilians in Halabja using poison gas in 1988.[8][9] Her participation in this event highlighted her role in preserving the memory of the Halabja chemical attack and advocating for justice for victims of chemical weapons.
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Political affiliation
Nasih is a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the major Kurdish political parties in Iraq, and serves on the party's Central Council. The PUK's victory in the 2014 local elections in Halabja paved the way for her appointment as mayor.
Legacy and significance
Nuxsha Nasih's career represents a significant advancement for women in Kurdish and Iraqi politics. As the second female mayor in Halabja's modern history and the first female governor in Iraq's history, she has broken important barriers and served as a role model for women's political participation in the region. Her work in environmental protection, cross-border diplomacy, and genocide remembrance has established her as a prominent figure in Iraqi Kurdish politics.
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Personal life
Nuxsha Nasih is married and has two daughters.
References
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