In a heartfelt tribute, a statue of Professor Mirella Galletti, a revered friend of the Kurdish people, was unveiled by the Erbil Governorate and the Italian Consulate General in Erbil. The ceremony took place on the evening of September 4, 2024, marking the anniversary of her passing.
The event, held at Sami Abdulrahman Park, was attended by several dignitaries, including Sasan Awni, Minister of Municipalities; Omed Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil; Safeen Dizayee, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations; Ano Jawhar, Minister of Transportation; Aryan Salahadin, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture; Michele Camerota, Italian Consul General in Erbil; and members of Galletti’s family.
Governor Khoshnaw, addressing the gathering, said, “Today, in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, we proudly unveil the statue of a cherished friend. Professor Galletti arrived in Kurdistan in the 1970s and devoted her life to researching and documenting our people’s life, customs, and history. Her work with the Kurdish Institute in Paris and her solidarity during our revolutionary struggles exemplify her dedication. This statue is a symbol of our respect and gratitude for her significant contributions.”
The statue’s placement in Sami Abdulrahman Park aims to ensure Galletti’s memory endures and remains visible to both locals and tourists.
Professor Mirella Galletti, born in Italy in 1949, dedicated much of her career to the study of Kurdish culture and history. She passed away in Rome on September 4, 2012.