Politics

36th anniversary of Anfal genocide to be commemorated across Kurdistan Region

Mirano, in the Metropolitan City of Venice, Veneto, Italy and the sister city of Chamchamal, will also mark the anniversary of Anfal with commemorative events.

Kurdistan 24 2024/04/14 10:08

woman is praying at the gravesite of an Anfal victim in the Kurdistan Region's Chamchamal district, April 14, 2022. (Photo: Dana Hama Gharib/Kurdistan 24)

Kurdistan Anfal Campaign 36th Anniversary Kurdish genocide April 14th

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The 36th anniversary of the victims of the Anfal campaign will be solemnly commemorated in Chamchamal, Garmian province, on Sunday, April 14, 2024.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education announced that all educational institutions across the Kurdistan Region will observe a moment of silence before the commencement of the first lesson to honor the memory of the Anfal genocide victims.

Mirano, in the Metropolitan City of Venice, Veneto, Italy and the sister city of Chamchamal, will also mark the anniversary of Anfal with commemorative events.

The Anfal campaign, commonly referred to as the Kurdish genocide, was a systematic genocide perpetrated against Kurds in southern Kurdistan by the Ba'ath regime under the leadership of Saddam Hussein, during the Iran-Iraq war. The operation involved approximately 200,000 Iraqi troops and resulted in the disappearance of 182,000 civilians and the destruction of over 4,500 villages.

The Anfal campaign unfolded in multiple stages:

1. The first phase (February 9 to February 23, 1988) targeted the Sargallu and Bargallu areas of the Soordash Township in the Dukan district of Sulaimani province.

2. The second phase (February 22 to April 1, 1988) extended to the Qara Dagh region.

3. The third phase (April 7 to April 20, 1988) encompassed the Garmian areas in Kirkuk province and cities such as Khurmatu, Kalar, Kufri, Darbandikhan, Chamchamal, and others.

4. The fourth phase (May 3 to May 8, 1988) covered the length of the small river, including Agh’jalar, Goptapa, Askar, Sheikh Bzeni, Koya, Khalkan, and Dukan.

5. Phases 5, 6, and 7 (May 15 to August 26, 1988) extended to various regions including Balisan, Shaqlawa, Hiran, Nazanin, Smaquli, Alana Valley, Rawanduz, Choman, Kandil Mountain Range, Ranya, Chwarqurna, Hizop, Bawaji Mountain, some villages of Koya, Dibaga, and Perde.

6. The eighth and final phase (August 25 to September 6, 1988) targeted the Badinan region of Amedi, Duhok, Zakho, Sheikhan, Akre, and Barzan.

Since 2007, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has designated April 14 as a day of remembrance to honor the victims of the Anfal genocide.

Let us remember and honor the victims of this tragic chapter in Kurdish history.