IN PICTURES: Halabja organizes event to commemorate lives lost during 1988 massacre

The city of Halabja on Sunday held a marathon to honor the lives of the people lost during the terrible massacre committed by the former Iraqi regime just over three decades ago on March 16.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The city of Halabja on Sunday held a marathon to honor the lives of the people lost during the terrible massacre committed by the former Iraqi regime just over three decades ago on March 16.

The marathon was five thousand meters-long, a number equal to the estimated lives initially lost during the chemical attack on the city in 1988. Another ten thousand others were injured. The death count rose even higher as civilians passed away from injuries they sustained during the attack on the city.

The Baathist Iraqi government at the time used various internationally banned weapons during their genocidal campaign, known as Anfal. The Iraqi High Criminal Court recognized the Halabja massacre as an act of genocide on March 1, 2010.

The marathon was sponsored by Kurdistan 24 Media and organized by Halabja University, local NGOs, and the local Halabja government.

The event started early Sunday, with dozens of participants beginning the marathon from the town of Sirwan to the Faculty of Sports Education of the University of Halabja.

“This is the third time this event has been organized,” said Bilan Abdullah, head of Kurdistan Youth Organization told Kurdistan 24.

Editing by Nadia Riva

Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Young boys and girls, along with people with disabilities and adults participated in the marathon that spanned five thousand meters from the town of Sirwan to the city of Halabja. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)