UK parliament commemorates Halabja chemical bombardment
News : 3/17/2025
London, United Kingdom, www.uk.gov.krd.
On Monday 17th March, parliament hosted an event to commemorate the 37th
anniversary of the chemical attack on Halabja, sponsored by John Slinger MP,
Chair of the APPG for Kurdistan and in conjunction with the KRG UK High
Representation.
Mr Slinger opened with his remarks on his experiences visiting the Kurdistan
Region and the need for justice, which was a central theme of the day’s
remembrance. “It is important that we move from saying Never Again to actually
practical meaning to the words Always Protect,” added Mr Slinger. All in attendance gave a minute's silence
for the victims of Halabja and Anfal.
Karwan Tahir, Kurdistan Region High Representative to the UK, thanked those
present and thanked the UK and parliament for the historical support they have
shown for Kurdistan Region, and recognising the genocide. “The Halabja massacre
is a constant reminder of the oppression we were once subjected to”.
High Representative also stated” All crimes
committed against the Kurds were barbaric that fall within the definition of
genocide, perpetrated against our nation solely for being Kurdish, aspiring to
peace, democracy, and freedom, and striving for our existence, the dictatorial
regime aimed to annihilate this will and spirit, preventing us from exercising
our legitimate rights”.
The Kurds may say, "No friends but the
mountains," although there have been many occasions when that has seemed
true. However, we are grateful for the support we’ve received, particularly
from the UK.
Mr Tahir highlited that they have made
every effort to ensure their stories are heard and remembered internationally,
and they work all year round to educate about the Halabja and Anfal, to ensure
the horrors of the past are never forgotten, and to ensure that another
genocide will never again happen.
The attendees heard from two survivors and witnesses to the horrors, Mr
Kamaran Nawroz, who gave their moving testimony on the horrors they had
experienced - from the moment the attacks happened to the weeks and months and
years of further treatment and trauma.
Dr Brian Brivati, an academic historian and author who is a long-standing
member of the KRG’s Genocide Advisory taskforce, talked of the need recognise
Halabja and Anfal as genocide and seek justice for ‘closure’, and stressed the
importance of listening to survivors. Dr Brivati was also clear in his belief
for greater freedom and independence for Kurds to prevent future violence and
achieve true justice.
Baroness Emma Nicholson, Chair of the UK-Iraq Business Council, later
thanked the audience at the UK Parliament for remembering the tragic occasion.
"As a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, we will continue
to support the victims and survivors of genocide in Kurdistan and seek justice
for them. More importantly، we will continue to work to prevent
genocide from taking place” Baroness Nicholson added