PM Masrour Barzani Urges Federal Government to Fulfill Responsibilities on 42nd Anniversary of Barzani Genocide
Barzani renewed his call for the federal government in Baghdad to take full responsibility for the victims of the Anfal genocide, chemical attacks, and other crimes committed by the former Iraqi regime. He criticized the ongoing marginalization of victims’ rights, urging an end to such policies.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday issued a statement commemorating the anniversary of the Barzani genocide, calling on the Iraqi federal government to fulfill its legal and constitutional obligations toward the victims of the former regime’s atrocities.
In his message, Barzani honored the memory of those lost in the genocidal campaign and recalled the horrors of the Anfal operations carried out by the former Iraqi regime, which devastated much of Kurdistan.
"On the anniversary of the genocide that targeted the Barzanis, we reverently commemorate the souls of the victims of this heinous crime, remembering also the brutal atrocities committed during the Anfal campaigns that ravaged all parts of Kurdistan," the statement read.
Barzani paid tribute to the Barzani martyrs, emphasizing that their legacy remains deeply etched in the collective memory of the Kurdish people. "Their memory will endure for generations," he said.
The prime minister highlighted the long history of resistance and sacrifice by the people of Barzan and Kurdistan, who stood firm against decades of aggression, including mass executions, destruction, and repression. He praised their unwavering defense of Kurdish land and identity, declaring that their resilience led to the defeat of the enemies of Kurdistan.
Barzani renewed his call for the federal government in Baghdad to take full responsibility for the victims of the Anfal genocide, chemical attacks, and other crimes committed by the former Iraqi regime. He criticized the ongoing marginalization of victims’ rights, urging an end to such policies.
"The patriotic people of Kurdistan will never forget these crimes," Barzani asserted. "Future generations must understand that all components of the Kurdish people made tremendous sacrifices to preserve their national identity and legitimate rights—and they will never give them up."
He concluded the statement with a firm vow: "We will stand as a steadfast barrier against anyone who dares desecrate the land of Kurdistan or repeat the vile chauvinistic crimes of the past."
“Peace be upon the pure souls of the Barzani martyrs and all martyrs of Kurdistan,” he concluded.
Later on the same day, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, in a post on X, reaffirmed the enduring memory of the Barzani Genocide, stating that "the people of Kurdistan will never forget these atrocities." He emphasized that Kurdistan has paid the ultimate price in its struggle for rights and freedom and vowed that the people will never abandon that cause. Barzani concluded his message by saluting the martyrs of the Barzani Genocide and all those who have sacrificed their lives for Kurdistan.
The people of Kurdistan will never forget these atrocities.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) July 31, 2025
We must remember, Kurdistan has paid the ultimate sacrifice for its rights and its freedom, and we will never give up.
I salute the martyrs of the Barzani Genocide and all the martyrs of Kurdistan. pic.twitter.com/mERN0Ttr3r
Today (July 31) marks the 42nd anniversary of the Anfal genocide against the Barzanis. This tragic chapter signaled the beginning of a broader genocidal policy against the Kurdish people in the second half of the 20th century under Iraq’s former Ba'ath regime.
The systematic annihilation of the Barzanis was executed in several phases. Initially, many Barzani families were displaced from their homeland and forcibly resettled in tightly controlled military compounds. These relocations—ostensibly for “security” reasons—were preparatory steps for the deadly purge that followed.
Eventually, the Iraqi regime launched its brutal crackdown, which led to the enforced disappearance and execution of more than 8,000 Barzani men and boys. The operation unfolded in stages and became a defining part of what would later be recognized as the genocidal Anfal campaign.
