Kurdistan Region PM Calls for Justice on 45th Anniversary of Feyli Kurdish Genocide
Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), issued a statement today marking the 45th anniversary of the genocide against the Feyli Kurds, urging the Iraqi government to fulfill its constitutional obligations in compensating victims and restoring their rights.
In his statement, Barzani condemned the systematic atrocities committed by successive Iraqi regimes, particularly in 1980, when hundreds of thousands of Feyli Kurds were forcibly displaced, thousands disappeared, and their properties confiscated. The victims were targeted solely for their ethnic identity, with many stripped of their Iraqi citizenship.
"The Iraqi government must fully assume its legal and constitutional responsibilities, including providing fair compensation to the families of the victims and returning all their seized rights and properties," Barzani emphasized.
We honor the memory of the victims of the Feyli Kurds genocide, who were killed in a horrific wave because of their Kurdish identity.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) April 4, 2025
After 45 years, it is time the federal government compensates the families. pic.twitter.com/Abo4g6lann
The Feyli Kurds, a long-persecuted Kurdish subgroup, faced mass executions, forced deportations, and property confiscations under Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath regime. Despite years of advocacy, many survivors and victims' families continue to seek justice and restitution.
Barzani concluded his statement by honoring the memory of the Feyli Kurdish martyrs and all those who perished in Kurdistan’s struggles.
The KRG has repeatedly called on Baghdad to address historical injustices, but progress on reparations and legal recognition of the genocide remains slow. Activists hope this anniversary will renew pressure for accountability.
