The Directorate of Culture and Arts in Zakho has made the use of Kurdish a key requirement for issuing business licenses and approving new commercial projects, in a move aimed at protecting Kurdish national identity and promoting the mother tongue.
Under the new regulations, business owners seeking licenses to open shops or establish new commercial projects must choose an authentic Kurdish name for their premises. Applications using foreign names or expressions will be rejected, and licenses will not be issued.
The decision aims to eliminate foreign-language expressions from commercial signs. It is now being fully implemented across the Zakho Independent Administration, making Kurdish names a prominent feature of the city’s markets and streets.
Zakho was officially granted independent administrative status on September 20, 2021, during the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government. The status gave the administration greater authority to make and implement decisions concerning the area.
