Sulaymaniyah archivist preserves city’s visual history through thousands of photos and rare artifacts

SULAYMANIYAH — Kameran Omar Sari’, a longtime resident of Sulaymaniyah, has become a trusted custodian of the city’s visual memory, having compiled and archived more than 2,000 historical photographs that document family life, public events, and cultural landmarks.

His growing collection, which includes images dating back as far as 1915, now serves as a key reference for local families and researchers. Many residents voluntarily contribute private photographs for preservation.

Sari’ has also published a dedicated photo book titled “Sulaymaniyah: From Saray to Azmar Peak”, offering a curated visual history of the city often referred to as the cultural capital of Kurdistan. “These photos come from the families of this city,” Sari’ told 964media. “Many of them document historical figures.”

His work extends beyond photography. Sari’ collects historical currency, including rare Iraqi bills from the monarchy era. “Sometimes I buy some of these old currencies directly from people,” he said, noting that his collection includes both printed materials and personal memorabilia.

Among the most significant items in his archive is a 1988 letter written by former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani expressing support for victims of the Halabja chemical attack carried out by the former Baathist regime.

Sulaymaniyah was founded in 1784 by Ibrahim Pasha of the Baban Principality and has since played a central role in Kurdish literary, political, and artistic life.