Iraqi Parliament remembers Halabja massacre, calls for prosecution of perpetrators of mass killings
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq’s Council of Representatives on Monday commemorated the anniversary of the Halabja chemical attack by the previous Ba’ath regime in the late 1980s, calling for the prosecution of all facilitators of mass killings.
“A warm greeting to the determined and everlasting Halabja, a symbol of endurance and life for 32 years after the memory of destruction and annihilation,” Mohammed al-Halbousi, Iraq’s Parliament Speaker, wrote on Twitter regarding the genocide.
Hassan Al-Kaabi, the first deputy speaker of Iraq’s Council of Representatives, said the “crime was and will remain a flagrant violation of the lowest human values, and a living testament to the ugliness and cruelty of the dictatorial regime.”
Kaabi also stressed the importance of the “prosecution of all perpetrators of mass graves prior and post 2003, also perpetuating the family members and caring for them in recognition of their sacrifices and what they suffered under both Ba’ath and ISIS eras.”
He called on the parliament to enact laws that guarantee social justice and equality for the families of martyrs and victims of the crimes the former Iraqi regime and terror groups such as the so-called Islamic State committed.
Second deputy speaker Bashir Haddad also extended his condolences to the families of victims and martyrs of Halabja, describing the genocide as a “heinous crime.”
Haddad stressed the need for peaceful coexistence between all Iraqi factions and religions. He reminded that there is a lot to do to serve the people of Halabja, starting with the “provision of development and service projects in the province.”
“We have high hopes in all political blocs and official bodies within the federal government to provide justice to the families of martyrs and victims who suffered under the previous regime.”
The Halabja chemical attack took place in March 1988 and killed roughly 5,000 people and injured almost 10,000 more. Kurds commemorate the massacre annually by holding special ceremonies to pay respect to the victims.
The Iraqi High Criminal Court recognized the Halabja massacre as an act of genocide on March 1, 2010.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany