Kurdistan Region President Marks 45th Anniversary of Feyli Kurdish Genocide

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – On Friday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani issued a statement on the 45th anniversary of the Feyli Kurdish genocide, a dark chapter in Iraq's history marked by violence and persecution against the Feyli Kurdish community, according to a statement from Kurdistan Region Presidency.

The Feyli Kurds were subjected to horrific atrocities during the regime of Saddam Hussein, including mass killings, arrests, deportations, enforced disappearances, and the loss of citizenship and property.

In his statement, President Barzani reiterated his ongoing commitment to seek justice for the Feyli Kurds, urging the Iraqi Government to provide comprehensive compensation to the victims. He called for the restoration of their citizenship and property, as well as addressing their grievances in accordance with the ruling of the Iraqi High Criminal Court, which officially classified these acts as genocide.

"We will continue our efforts to reclaim the rights of our Feyli brothers and sisters, and we will persist in our pursuit of justice on their behalf," Barzani assured. "This is a moral obligation that we will not abandon."

The president also emphasized the importance of remembering the atrocities faced by the Feyli Kurds as a way to promote a future based on mutual respect, collaboration, and the protection of all communities within Iraq. "This history, marked by suffering and loss, must serve as a lesson. We must build a future that ensures the dignity and rights of every Iraqi citizen," Barzani remarked.

In closing, President Barzani paid a heartfelt tribute to the memory of the martyrs of the Feyli Kurds and all those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of justice and freedom for Kurdistan.

The statement stands as a reaffirmation of the Kurdistan Region's commitment to justice and the protection of human rights and a solemn reminder of the enduring legacy of the Feyli Kurdish genocide.

The Feylis are ethnic Kurds and followers of the Shiite sect of Islam. The former Ba’athist regime in the early 1980s launched a systematic ethnic cleansing campaign. Thousands were killed, and others were deported to Iran, stripped of their Iraqi citizenship. The widespread campaign included Baghdad, Diyala, Kut, Khanaqin, Jalawla, Numaniyah, Mandali, Naft Khana, Badra, Gassan, and many other places.

Between 10,000 and 20,000 young Feylis are estimated to have been killed by the former regime. Many Feylis, predominantly merchants and businesses, were stripped of their properties and assets.

Although the Iraqi High Tribunal in 2008 and the Iraqi Parliament in 2010 officially recognized the genocide of the Feyli Kurds, they have not been granted Iraqi citizenship nor compensated for the crimes committed against them.