An intriguing tale unfolds in Sulaymaniyah, a city nestled in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq as a thief from decades past steps into the light of redemption. Nearly 30 years after the commission of his crime, this enigmatic figure chooses to right his wrongs with a moving act of contrition.
Under the cloak of anonymity, the thief orchestrates his penitent deed. On a quiet Saturday evening, a masked figure materializes at the doorstep of a surprised family. Without a word, a bag exchanges hands with one of the occupants before the mysterious visitor swiftly disappears into the night.
Within the bag lies a sum of 400,000 Iraqi dinars, secured within an envelope. Accompanying this unexpected money is a letter written in Kurdish, revealing the thief’s remorseful confession. The letter recounts the theft of 400 Iraqi Swiss dinars—an ancient currency once prevalent in the region—from the family’s residence in the Rizgari neighborhood during the years spanning 1990 to 1998.
In his letter, the remorseful thief bares his soul, expressing deep regret for his past transgressions. He recounts his futile search for the family following their relocation.
With sincerity, he returns the equivalent of his stolen money, hoping for forgiveness: “I looked for you after you moved. I stole 400 Swiss dinars from your house in the district of Samoud, so I returned this 400,000 dinars to you, I hope you will forgive me. I did not have any money in my pocket at the time and I desperately needed it.”
