The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, has commemorated the 38th anniversary of the Anfal Campaign of 1988, describing it as one of the darkest chapters in Kurdish history and renewing calls for justice and international recognition of the tragedy as genocide.

In an official statement, President Barzani said the Anfal campaign carried out by the former Iraqi regime resulted in the deaths of more than 182,000 innocent Kurds, including children, women, and the elderly. He emphasized that the campaign was not only a crime but a deliberate attempt to eradicate a peaceful people.

“Anfal was a brutal act that left deep scars on our nation, scars that continue to affect our society to this day,” Barzani stated.

The president honored the memory of the victims and expressed condolences to their families. He also reiterated that, according to the ruling of the Iraqi High Criminal Court, the Government of Iraq has a legal responsibility to compensate the families of Anfal victims.

Barzani stressed that the Kurdistan Regional Government will continue its international diplomatic efforts to ensure that the Anfal campaign is formally recognized worldwide as an act of genocide. He also highlighted ongoing humanitarian efforts to locate mass graves and return the remains of victims to their homeland.

“As part of our humanitarian and national duty, we will persist in searching for the remains of the martyrs and ensure they are returned to their homeland,” he said, adding that greater support must be provided to the surviving families of Anfal victims.

On the occasion, the president also called for unity among political parties and communities in the Kurdistan Region, stressing that protecting the constitutional status and achievements of the region can only be achieved through collective efforts.

He concluded by noting that strengthening unity and cooperation is the best way to honor the sacrifices of the martyrs and ensure a better future for coming generations.

“Peace be upon the souls of the Anfal martyrs and all the fallen heroes of Kurdistan,” Barzani said.