Throughout Ottoman and Persian imperial contests, the Helebce Fort became a sanctuary of Kurdish self-rule. One of the most iconic figures linked to the region is Lady Adela Jaff, the Kurdish noblewoman known as the “Princess of the Kurds,” who governed Helebce and its surroundings in the early 20th century. She embodied both traditional and modern Kurdish leadership, using the fort and the city as a cultural and political hub. The fort’s location - strategically placed near trade routes and tribal corridors - made it an ideal stronghold. It was not just a defensive fortification but a cultural meeting point, a place where peshmerga leaders, poets, religious scholars, and tribal elders gathered and made decisions that shaped Kurdish destiny.

Tragedy & Commemoration

Al-Anfal & Chemical Genocide (1987–1989): Helebce was devastated during Saddam Hussein’s genocidal al-Anfal campaign. On March 16, 1988, the town was subjected to a horrific chemical attack that resulting in 3,200–5,000 Kurdish civilian deaths and thousands more injured. It is recognized as genocide by international tribunals.

The Memorial: The Helebce Memorial is part fortress-ruin, part monument, and now stands as a solemn tribute. Featuring martyr tombstones, haunting images, and artifacts, it embodies Kurdish collective memory and national mourning rituals.

The fort, once a symbol of sovereignty, became a witness to unspeakable tragedy. But from this trauma, a stronger spirit of Kurdish unity and resistance was born.