President Barzani Commemorates 45th Anniversary of Feyli Kurdish Genocide
Masoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and former President of the Kurdistan Region, marked the 45th anniversary of the Feyli Kurdish genocide with a poignant statement published on the official Barzani Headquarters page on Facebook.
In his statement, the veteran Kurdish leader honored the memory of Feyli Kurdish martyrs and all those who sacrificed their lives for the Kurdish cause. "The Feyli Kurdish genocide represents one of the darkest pages in our history, when the brutal Ba'ath regime systematically targeted our people," Barzani wrote. "Our Feyli brothers and sisters have always been an inseparable part of Kurdistan's social fabric and liberation movement."
The Feyli Kurds, a predominantly Shia Kurdish community concentrated along the Iraq-Iran border, faced particularly severe persecution during Saddam Hussein's rule. Between 1979 and 1988, tens of thousands were forcibly displaced, with many executed or "disappeared" by security forces. Their properties were confiscated and families torn apart in what human rights organizations describe as a clear case of ethnic cleansing.
Barzani's commemoration comes amid renewed efforts by Kurdish and international organizations to secure formal recognition of the atrocities as genocide. The statement has garnered widespread attention across Kurdish social media, with many users sharing personal stories of Feyli Kurdish suffering.
Political analysts note that Barzani's decision to highlight this anniversary reflects both the ongoing importance of historical justice in Kurdish politics and the KDP's efforts to maintain its position as the standard-bearer of Kurdish national memory. The party has announced plans for memorial events throughout the Kurdistan Region in coming days.
The Feyli Kurdish genocide remains one of the least acknowledged crimes of the Ba'ath era, despite partial recognition by the Iraqi government in 2010. Survivors continue to demand full recognition, reparations, and the return of confiscated properties.
As Kurdish leaders work to preserve this painful history, Barzani's statement serves as a reminder of the unhealed wounds that continue to shape Kurdish political consciousness today.
