Muqdadiyah’s veteran Kurdish repairman cherishes life in the city

DIYALA — In the bustling heart of Muqdadiyah’s old market, Haji Ali Hussein, a 70-year-old sewing machine repairman, has spent four decades honing his craft and building a legacy in a city that has become his true home.

Born in Baghdad to a family that moved from Sulaymaniyah before settling in Muqdadiyah in 1956, Hussein began his career as an apprentice in a repair shop. Over the years, he mastered his trade and eventually opened his own business. Locals know him well—ask for “Uncle Ali the Kurd” in the old market, and you’ll be directed to his shop, a testament to his meticulous work and longstanding dedication.

Despite his Kurdish origins and early attempts in the 1990s to return to Sulaymaniyah, Hussein found Muqdadiyah indispensable. “I’m originally from Sulaymaniyah, from the Kani Iskan neighborhood. I’m 70 years old, born in Baghdad, and we moved to Muqdadiyah in 1956 because my father was a police officer,” Hussein told 964media. “This city means a lot to me—I grew up here, spent my childhood here, and I can’t leave. I have so many memories.”

For 40 years, Hussein has repaired sewing machines—starting with the large cobbler machines before eventually learning to fix every type. In the 1990s, he attempted to relocate to Sulaymaniyah, but circumstances brought him back to Muqdadiyah, where he reopened his shop behind the old post office.

Reflecting on the past, Hussein recalled a time when sewing machine repairs were in high demand because most people made their own clothes. “Now, with imported clothes flooding the market, fewer people use sewing machines,” he noted. He also fondly remembered his former shop near the Shakha River, describing the atmosphere as “wonderful.”

Longtime customer and friend Khalid Mahmoud recounted his shock when he first learned of Hussein’s brief departure. “One day, I went to get my machine repaired and found the shop closed. The neighbors told me, ‘Haji Ali has moved to Sulaymaniyah.’ I was in shock. I was heartbroken,” Mahmoud told 964media. He immediately called Hussein and broke down in tears over the separation. “Months later, while walking through Muqdadiyah’s market, I saw Haji Ali had returned. I was so happy that I cried. I invited him for a meal of ‘dikka arab – Arabic rooster’ to celebrate,” Mahmoud said. “I love him dearly, and I won’t let him leave for Sulaymaniyah again. He’s one of us now.”