KRP Barzani: Halabja’s Pain Endures, Justice Must Be Served

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – On the 37th anniversary of the Halabja chemical attack, Kurdistan Region President (KRP) Nechirvan Barzani released a statement honoring the memory of the more than five thousand innocent civilians who perished in one of the most horrific crimes against humanity.

In his address, the Kurdistan Region’s President not only paid tribute to the victims but also called for justice, recognition, and compensation for the people of Halabja and all Kurdish victims of genocide.

“On this painful anniversary of the Halabja chemical attack, we bow our heads in respect and reverence for the souls of more than five thousand martyrs of Halabja, and we honorably commemorate all martyrs of Kurdistan who sacrificed their lives for freedom,” Kurdistan Region President Barzani stated. “Greetings and respect to the dignified families and relatives of the martyrs, the wounded, and the victims who still suffer from the effects of this horrific crime.”

The attack on Halabja on March 16, 1988, was a catastrophic moment in Kurdish history. As part of Saddam Hussein’s genocidal Anfal campaign, the Baathist regime unleashed a deadly cocktail of mustard gas, cyanide, and other lethal chemical agents on the city, indiscriminately killing thousands of men, women, and children. Survivors endured agonizing injuries, and to this day, many continue to suffer from the long-term effects of exposure to the chemical agents.

The Region’s President underscored that the attack on Halabja was not an isolated event but part of a systematic campaign aimed at annihilating the Kurdish people. “The chemical bombing of Halabja was not just a crime, but a tragic part of a series of crimes and genocide aimed at eliminating the people of Kurdistan—a people whose only offense was demanding their legitimate right to life and freedom,” he stated.

Halabja has since become an enduring symbol of Kurdish suffering, a name etched into global history as evidence of the brutality endured by the Kurdish people. The Region’s President noted that true justice remains elusive, emphasizing that if genuine justice had been served, the Halabja catastrophe alone would have been sufficient to guarantee all of the Kurdish people's legitimate rights.

Despite international recognition of the attack as genocide and numerous calls for reparations, the wounds of Halabja remain unhealed. Survivors and the families of victims continue to struggle for adequate healthcare, economic stability, and rightful recognition.

Kurdistan Region’s President Barzani reaffirmed his stance that the people of Halabja and all victims of genocide must receive the compensation and services they deserve. He urged the Iraqi government to meet its legal and moral obligations toward Halabja, fulfill its commitments to the victims, and finalize the long-overdue approval of Halabja’s status as a province.

“It is the duty of the Iraqi government to fulfill its legal and moral responsibility toward the victims and all its obligations to Halabja and its residents, to deliver justice to them, and to complete all procedures for Halabja's provincial status,” Barzani stressed.

While the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has made efforts to develop the city and improve services, full provincial status would grant Halabja the necessary administrative and financial autonomy to accelerate its reconstruction and economic growth. Yet, despite previous pledges, the Iraqi government has failed to take the final steps needed to grant Halabja the recognition it deserves.

Nechirvan Barzani also extended his call to the international community, urging continued efforts to ensure that the horrors of Halabja are never repeated, whether in Kurdistan or elsewhere in the world.

He stressed the need for a global commitment to preventing the use of chemical weapons and ensuring accountability for those who commit such crimes against humanity.

“The international community must also continue its efforts to ensure these types of crimes are never repeated anywhere in the world,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of international vigilance against genocide and war crimes.

Reflecting on the sacrifices made by the Kurdish people, KRP Nechirvan Barzani linked the massacre of Halabja to the broader Kurdish struggle for self-determination. He highlighted that the constitutional and federal status of the Kurdistan Region, along with all the achievements of the Kurdish people, are the direct result of the sacrifices of Halabja’s martyrs and countless others who fought for freedom.

“The Kurdistan Region today, with its constitutional and federal status and all its achievements, is the product of the struggle and sacrifice of martyrs. It is our collective duty to protect these gains through unity and harmony,” he said.

He urged the people of Kurdistan to strengthen their cohesion and cooperation to safeguard the region’s hard-earned rights and ensure a brighter future for the next generations. He concluded with a solemn tribute to those who lost their lives in Halabja and beyond.

“Salutations and tribute to the souls of the martyrs.”

As Kurdistan mourns and remembers the Halabja massacre, the call for justice, recognition, and reparation grows louder. The atrocity remains an open wound, a reminder of the immense suffering endured by the Kurdish people and the long road ahead toward true justice and recognition.