Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Barzanis' genocide today, denouncing the persisting chauvinistic mindset that had led to the brutal massacre of thousands of Barzani civilians at the hands of the former Saddam Hussein regime in 1983. Speaking at the solemn event, Barzani emphasized that this toxic mindset continues to pose a threat to the Kurdish people and has been a source of instability in Iraq and the broader region.

The horrifying genocide saw all male Barzani civilians forcibly rounded up and incarcerated in camps in Erbil, with over 8,000 of them losing their lives in the brutal massacre that ensued. After the downfall of the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003, the remains of some victims were discovered in Iraq's southern desert, providing further evidence of the atrocities committed.

"The genocidal campaign against the Kurdish people was a systematic and concerted effort, which included not only the Barzanis' genocide but also the disappearance of 12,000 Feyli Kurds, the Garmiyan's Anfal campaign, and the infamous chemical bombardment of Halabja," stated Masoud Barzani, who served as Kurdistan Region president from 2005 to 2017.

The city of Halabja suffered a devastating chemical attack in the late 1980s, resulting in the death of approximately 5,000 innocent civilians and the displacement of thousands more. The Anfal campaign, another horrifying chapter in Kurdish history, claimed the lives of at least 182,000 Kurdish civilians and left countless villages razed to the ground.

During the commemoration, Masoud Barzani expressed his gratitude to the people of Erbil plains for their support and compassion towards the families affected by the Barzanis' genocide. He called on the Iraqi government to fulfill its responsibility and compensate the victims in accordance with the constitution.

In 2005, a Kurdish team led by the former Kurdistan Region Minister of Human Rights undertook a challenging mission to remote areas near Iraq's borders with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Their efforts bore fruit, leading to the recovery of 500 remains of Barzani victims. These remains were laid to rest in a solemn funeral procession in Barzan in 2007, a poignant tribute to those who lost their lives.

The 40th anniversary of the Barzanis' genocide serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed against the Kurdish people. Leaders and activists alike are urging for justice, recognition, and an end to the chauvinistic mindset that continues to threaten the lives and well-being of the Kurdish community.

As the region reflects on this dark chapter in its history, the call for accountability and remembrance resounds louder than ever, ensuring that the memory of those who perished remains alive and that such heinous acts are never repeated.