Kurdistan Democratic Party Calls on Baghdad to Deliver Justice for Barzani Anfal Victims
KDP bloc marks 42nd Anfal anniversary, demands Iraqi govt compensate Barzani victims' families. Calls crime 'heinous act against humanity,' warns of resurgent chauvinism threatening Iraq's unity. 'Justice remains a national obligation.'
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) bloc in the Iraqi Parliament on Friday issued a solemn statement marking the 42nd anniversary of the Anfal campaign against the Barzani Kurds, urging the federal government to deliver long-overdue justice and full compensation to the families of the victims.
In a formal statement, the KDP bloc asserted that the responsibility for compensation rests with the Iraqi federal government as part of its “moral and constitutional obligations,” aimed at upholding principles of fairness and justice.
“In this painful day, we commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the horrific Anfal crime perpetrated by the defunct Ba'athist Saddam regime against more than eight thousand innocent Barzani citizens – elderly, young men, and children – who were forcibly taken to southern Iraq and buried alive, in one of the most heinous crimes against humanity in modern history,” the statement read.
The KDP bloc emphasized that the Anfal genocide was part of a systematic campaign by the former regime to annihilate the Kurdish people and suppress their legitimate aspirations through brutal means.
“Today, we bow in reverence before the souls of those martyrs who committed no crime other than belonging to this proud nation. They rose to defend their just cause and paid with their lives, leaving behind stories of loss and pain that still echo in the conscience of every Kurd.”
The bloc reiterated its call to compensate the victims’ families materially and psychologically, and emphasized that justice for the Barzani Anfal victims is a national obligation for Baghdad.
In addition, the statement warned against the rise of chauvinistic ideologies that still infiltrate certain political circles in Iraq, posing a threat to national cohesion and security.
“We affirm the need to combat the chauvinistic mindset that continues to creep into some minds and threatens the national fabric and undermines stability and security in Iraq,” the bloc said, stressing the importance of holding accountable those who seek to undermine Kurdistan Region’s progress in construction, development, and prosperity.
The message concluded with a tribute:
“Glory and mercy to the martyrs of the Barzani Anfal campaign, and to all the honorable martyrs of Kurdistan. May their memory remain a beacon lighting the path toward freedom and dignity.”
Kurdistan Democratic Party Bloc
Iraqi Council of Representatives
Friday, August 1, 2025
