Politics

Britain Congratulates Halabja: A Symbolic Milestone Amid the Memory of Anfal

The UK’s top diplomat for the Middle East and North Africa, Minister Hamish Falconer reaffirmed Britain’s solidarity with the victims and survivors. “Britain's hope for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for its people.”

The flags of Britain and Kurdistan. (Graphics: Kurdistan24)
The flags of Britain and Kurdistan. (Graphics: Kurdistan24)
Kurdistan British Consulate General in Erbil Halabja Province Bill 37th anniversary of the Anfal genocide

By Kamaran Aziz

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The United Kingdom has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the people of Halabja and the Kurdistan Region following the historic decision by the Iraqi Parliament to elevate Halabja to full provincial status. The British Consulate General in Erbil hailed the move as “an important and positive step,” expressing optimism for a future defined by peace, stability, and prosperity.

The statement, published on Tuesday on the platform X, came just a day after the Iraqi Parliament approved the long-awaited bill by majority vote. The decision—made symbolically on the 37th anniversary of the Anfal campaign—formally recognizes Halabja as Iraq’s 19th province, marking the culmination of years of political advocacy and public demand.

In its message, the British Consulate General in Erbil offered its warmest congratulations to the people of Halabja and the Kurdistan Region.

The UK’s top diplomat for the Middle East and North Africa, Minister Hamish Falconer, also marked the significance of the moment with a powerful tribute to the victims of the Anfal genocide. “As we have for many years, we gather to remember the victims of Saddam Hussein's brutal and inhumane Anfal campaign,” Falconer stated. “He and his thuggish Ba'athist killers systematically targeted Kurds and other minorities between 1986 and 1989.”

Falconer emphasized that the horrors of Anfal included forced displacement, the mass killing of between 50,000 and 100,000 people, and the destruction of nearly 4,000 Kurdish villages. He said, “This was a calculated attempt to cause as much damage and hurt to Kurds as possible.”

“The appalling acts committed are too many to list, but they include the forcible displacement, maiming and murder of between 50,000 and 100,000 people, and the deliberate and callous destruction of 4,000 Kurdish villages,” he stated, adding that, “Today we honour the memory of those killed in this horrid episode of history. My thoughts along with the British Government are with their families and loved ones on this mournful day.”

He reaffirmed Britain’s solidarity with the victims and survivors. “Britain's hope for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for its people.”

He also noted that on March 16, the British Consul General had visited Halabja to commemorate the chemical attack of 1988, which killed more than 5,000 civilians. The attack, orchestrated by Saddam Hussein’s cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid—infamously known as “Chemical Ali”—remains one of the most brutal atrocities of the Anfal campaign.

The Anfal genocide was carried out in eight stages from 1986 to 1989. More than 180,000 Kurds were forcibly disappeared and killed during the campaign, which also saw the mass razing of Kurdish villages and widespread use of chemical weapons. The Iraqi High Criminal Court, in a landmark ruling in 2007, sentenced five perpetrators to death or life imprisonment, including Ali Hassan al-Majid and Sultan Hashim, Iraq’s then-Minister of Defense.

In a moment charged with symbolism and long-awaited justice, the Iraqi Parliament on Monday officially passed the bill to elevate Halabja to the status of a province. The decision, made with a clear majority vote during a highly anticipated session, marked a milestone for the people of Halabja and the Kurdish nation at large.

The move came after years of advocacy and political maneuvering, with the bill first introduced in the Iraqi Parliament in 2023. Despite repeated postponements due to lack of quorum, Monday’s session finally brought the long-debated issue to a conclusion. At precisely 3:15 PM, the Iraqi Parliament convened with 178 members present. The vote on the Halabja bill was the first item on the six-point agenda, and it passed with widespread support from Kurdish, Shiite, and Sunni factions.

Shwan Kalari, a member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, told Kurdistan24: “Today is a historic day. We did not read all the statements about the Anfal commemoration, just to avoid creating problems and excuses.” He added that Halabja, like Iraq’s other 18 provinces, would now benefit from full provincial rights and allocations within the framework of the federal government.

Sipan Sherwani, another member of the Iraqi Parliament, extended heartfelt congratulations to President Masoud Barzani and the families of Halabja’s martyrs, describing the moment as a culmination of collective effort. “Thanks to the unity of Kurdish and national factions, especially the efforts of Deputy Speaker Shakhawan Abdullah and First Deputy Speaker Mohsen Mandalawi, the bill was passed,” he noted.

According to MP Chro Sharif, coordination between the KDP and PUK leaderships and other Iraqi political blocs was instrumental in preventing further delay. Political agreements were struck to ensure cross-factional support, ensuring the bill's passage.

Deputy Speaker Shakhawan Abdullah, in a press conference, called the vote “the least loyalty we can show to the victims of Halabja,” framing the decision as a moral act rather than a political one. He acknowledged efforts by some factions to derail the process, but celebrated the outcome as a hard-won legislative triumph.

The newly established Halabja Province comprises the central district of Halabja and the towns of Khurmal, Byara, Sirwan, and Bamo. It shares an 18-kilometer border with Eastern Kurdistan through the Shushmi-Tawela and Pshta border crossings. With its new status, Halabja will now receive an independent budget, administrative autonomy, and expanded political representation.

Acting Governor of Halabja Nuxsha Nasih described the day as historic and emphasized that political unity among Kurdish factions was key to the success. She urged continued solidarity among Kurdish parties to advance broader national rights.

President Masoud Barzani, one of the earliest and most vocal advocates of Halabja’s provincial status, praised the move as a long-overdue step toward healing and development. “Halabja’s provincial status will serve as a stepping stone to revitalize this resilient region of Kurdistan,” he said, paying tribute to the martyrs of Halabja and Kurdistan.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani echoed the sentiment, hailing the decision as a symbolic acknowledgment of Halabja’s suffering and resilience. “The Kurdistan Regional Government will continue to honor its debt to the sacrifices of Halabja’s people by enhancing services and development,” he stated.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani described the Iraqi Parliament’s recognition of Halabja as a joyous milestone. “This reflects the collective happiness of the people of Kurdistan,” he said, reaffirming the KRG’s commitment to building a better future for Halabja.

The recognition of Halabja as a province is widely seen as an act of restorative justice, linking present governance reforms to a long, painful history. It not only grants administrative autonomy, budgeting power, and political representation to the province, but also acknowledges decades of suffering endured by its people. Britain’s statement affirms that international partners remain committed to supporting Halabja and the broader Kurdistan Region in their journey toward healing, development, and dignity.

As Halabja enters a new chapter in its history, the memory of Anfal continues to shape its identity—and the message from the UK underscores a shared determination to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated again.

 
Dr. Kamaran Aziz ,
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