Dabashan: The Seized Heights of the Talabani Family

Perched at the highest point in Sulaimani, Dabashan, the palace of the Talabani family, has come to symbolize the unchecked power and privilege of Kurdistan’s ruling elite. Once a public space covering over 1,000 acres (2.5 million square meters), Dabashan has been seized by the Talabanis, with the price of each square meter soaring to over $1,000, making the total value of the estate a staggering $2.5 billion.

Through legal maneuvers, the family changed the land’s designation, registering it in their own names, a move that stripped the people of Sulaimani of what was once a beloved public area. Before the takeover, this location was open to citizens year-round, serving as both a tourist attraction and agricultural site.

This land grab highlights the absurdity and audacity of both ruling parties in Kurdistan, whose grip on power extends from politics to the very soil beneath their feet. The joke of their unchallenged control over land and resources seems never-ending, with the people paying the price.