Masrour Barzani: Iraq must compensate people of Kurdistan for former regime’s oppressive practices

“We will not accept being anyone’s subordinate. Either we are equal or independent,” Masrour Barzani said at an elections rally in Zakho on Wednesday.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Masrour Barzani, a member of the Political Bureau of the leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Wednesday called on the Iraqi government to implement the constitution and compensate the people of the Kurdistan Region for the crimes committed by the former Iraqi regime.

Addressing thousands of KDP supporters at a football stadium in Zakho, Barzani called upon Baghdad to treat the people of the Kurdistan Region equally.

“The Iraqi authorities have violated the rights of the Kurdish people,” he said, noting that KDP representatives will go to Baghdad to regain the people of Kurdistan’s rights through the implementation of the constitution, particularly those related to the Kurdistani areas currently occupied by Iraqi forces.

Barzani referred to Article 132 of the Iraqi Constitution which requires the Iraqi state to care for “the victims of the oppressive practices of the defunct dictatorial regime.”

He added that not only were the people of Kurdistan not compensated by Baghdad but their rights had been violated.

Addressing Iraqi authorities, Barzani asked why compensations were made to Kuwait for the Iraqi regime’s occupation of the country but not to the people of the Kurdistan Region who suffered during the Anfal campaign through chemical attacks and the destruction of thousands of villages.

“According to an assessment conducted by experts, from 1963 until 2003, the cost of damages inflicted to the Kurdistan Region by successive Iraqi regimes is estimated at 384 billion USD,” Barzani revealed.

“We will not accept being anyone’s subordinate. Either we are equal or independent,” he said, adding that “the KDP holds the flag which represents Kurdistan’s right to self-determination and independence.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany