SHAQLAWA, Kurdistan Region – Tourism spiked in Shaqlawa on Wednesday and Thursday, a popular tourist destination attracting Kurds, Arabs, Iranians and others came to enjoy the countryside, shopping, restaurants for traditional Kurdish food, shisha, or board games.
“On the occasion of Newroz, there are so many tourist visiting us including Kurds, Arabs, Iranians and even Americans and other westerners,” Bakhtiar Khadir from Massif who manages the popular Jihan Restaurant in Shaqlawa told Rudaw English. “Kurdistan is like all other nations. We would like to have peace like other countries because there is no difference between us and them.
Situated between shops and other cafes at the bazaar in what locals have described as “the most popular café in Shaqlawa” is Ziad Cafe, where many men gathered to smoke shisha and play board games while drinking tea.
Ziad cafe is one of the most popular cafes in Shaqlawa.
“We’ve had so many guests the last few days that all of our tables were full,” said the manager, Mohammed. “This is a special cultural day where we can enjoy our time and go out for picnics on the countryside.”
Mohammed added that their cafe has mostly received Kurds and Iraqis, but many Iranians and other foreigners as well during the Newroz holiday as Shaqlawa is popular for tourists due to the cooler weather in the mountainous region.
Taha Ahmad (center back) along with family and friends in the Heran area of Shaqlawa.
Taha Ahmad from Kore, a Peshmerga said he and his family were happy to celebrate the new year in the popular Heran countryside of Shaqlawa: “We came to celebrate Newroz because it is an important cultural day for the Kurdish people.
“Shaqlawa is much more beautiful than other places because it is well known for its tourism. Also the area is very safe and secure and the weather is very nice here.
Despite the celebrations, he pointed out that many people are still worried about what their “brothers and sisters” in Afrin are currently going through.
“My message for the world is that they should go and support Afrin because there is nobody helping the people there, even they fought the war against ISIS on behalf of America. We really need the world to support the Kurds,” said Ahmad.
Rezheen Mutasam, far right, enjoyed Newroz with her family in the Nazanin area near Shaqlawa.
Rezheen Mutasam, a 26-year-old engineer from Erbil working for the government, said that her family wanted to come to the Nazanin area near Shaqlawa because it is a popular place and many people are interested in visiting the area, covered in green pastures, farmland, and the occasional roaming livestock.
“Newroz is very nice and beautiful because we’re having Kurdish food and wearing traditional dress,” she said.
Mutasam also added that people from Erbil enjoy the nicer weather of Shaqlawa and her family plan on spending all three days of Newroz at the same location.
Her message for the world was that “Kurdish people only want to live in peace away from war.”
Nema and his family enjoying Newroz in the Nazanin area of Shaqlawa.
Mustafa Nema, a Turkmen, and his family from Erbil were also visiting the Nazanin area of Shaqlawa due to the cooler weather.
“We are a very good nation and we just want to live in peace. We don’t want any conflicts within our society and wish the outside world would support us,” he said, adding that Newroz in the past few years was tough due to war and conflict with many Peshmerga having lost their lives fighting ISIS.
“But this year is very good because there is no war here now and we’d like to keep it this way,” he added. “Please let the foreigners know about how peaceful the Kurds are and our beautiful culture.”
Another popular gathering place for families celebrating the first day of the three-day holiday, which runs from Wednesday March 21 through Friday, March 23, was along Koya Road, a mountainous area on the outskirts of Erbil.
Traffic was backed up on Koya Road for several kilometers on Wednesday, near the Martyrs Monument, as people gathered with family or friends to celebrate what they hope will be a new beginning.
Traditional music was playing loudly as people from across the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and abroad enjoyed a variety of food, children were laughing and playing, with vendors selling snacks, drinks and toys.
Salah Qader and his family enjoy a picnic on the first day of Newroz Wednesday.
“The Kurds are a peaceful people and deserve to enjoy their lives. Kurds are many and we share one dream, to have a country where we can exercise our rights. We wish that the surrounding countries would understand our situation,” said Salah Qader, a Kurdish teacher from Baghdad who moved to Erbil after ISIS started to take control over swathes of Iraq in 2014.
Mohammed Yousef (far left) and his cousin Emad (next to him) smoke shisha with their family on Wednesday.
Iraqis Emad and Mohammed Yousef, cousins and both police officers in the Sallahadin province of Iraq, were also enjoying the Newroz festivities on Koya Road.
“The situation is stable now and Newroz is not just for Kurdish people, it’s for all people living here and across Iraq,” Emad Yousef said, having fled to Erbil in 2014. “Fortunately the situation in Saladin is much better but the life is still better in Erbil”
“This Newroz all people came together and I wish that all of us can live in peace together,” he added.
His cousin, Mohammed, explained: “We want the foreign people, all religions and nationalities this Newroz to feel that the situation here will be better and good for everyone.”
Sahand Yassin and his family enjoy traditional dancing for the first day of Newroz on Wednesday.
“Newroz this year is the best,” said Sahand Yassin from Erbil who was joined by his wife, three children, his brothers and parents. “We feel very comfortable and we wish to see our situation to be better in the future. Fortunately we’ve had no problems because our society has many good people.”
“I wish happiness for everyone,” he added.
Sara Faris (second from right) and her family spent the first day of Newroz picnicking on Koya Road Wednesday.
Sara Faris, 22, from Erbil said that Kurds faced difficult situations in the past with the conflicts. “God willing, this will be a good year for the Kurdish people because the war in Iraq is over.”
Shwan Ali, 30, from Erbil said he and his family were very happy to celebrate Newroz peacefully this year.
“This is the best year because everyone is dancing and enjoying themselves, inside and outside of Kurdistan,” he said.
“Foreign people and visitors should feel comfortable and they are like our family. We are here to help them with anything they need,” Ali added.
