‘You will turn into a song again’
Housing project on Mount Goizha sparks uproar in Sulaymaniyah
SULAYMANIYAH – The ongoing construction of a housing project on Mount Goizha in Sulaymaniyah City has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among local residents, public figures, and environmental activists. Critics argue the project threatens the city’s natural environment and accuse developers of prioritizing financial profits over ecological preservation.
Activists have taken to social media to raise awareness, launching hashtags such as #StopDisrespectingSulaymaniyahMountains and #StopTerrorizingMountGoizha.
Sulaymaniyah-based poet Dilawar Qaradaghi expressed his concerns poetically on his Facebook page, lamenting the environmental damage: “A day in the life; it doesn’t matter when. They will leave with their own companies, markets, and shops. And you, on a beautiful day, blossom once more, just like every other time, with colors of white, green, and red,” he wrote. “A day in the life, no matter when. You will turn into a song again, oh the cause of pleasure and delight.”
Addressing growing concerns, Zardasht Rafeeq, a spokesperson for Sulaymaniyah Municipality, told 964media that the project has official approval.
“As the Sulaymaniyah Municipality, we have ensured that the company will implement some service-oriented initiatives in return,” Rafeeq said, noting that one such project is the improvement of the road in front of the Peshraw Tunnel in Sulaymaniyah.
Shabaz Sadiq, Project Manager for Qaiwan Group, which is implementing the housing project, told 964media that the new development on Goizha Mountain is part of a broader initiative by their company to enhance residential projects in Sulaymaniyah.
“We have obtained all necessary permits,” Sadiq stated.
Although the type and price range of the Qaiwan housing project are not clear, many in Kurdistan have expressed deep concerns about such projects being unaffordable for much of the citizenry and contributing to rising home prices.
Kurdistan Region environmental board pleads for personal responsibility
Diywana Dam faces structural issues and delays in Sulaymaniyah
