Anniversary of the Halabja Chemical Bombardment Marked in London

News : 3/16/2026

Holland Park, London, United Kingdom, www.uk.gov.krd. On the anniversary of the Halabja chemical attack, a memorial ceremony was held at Holland Park, bringing together members of the Kurdish community, diplomats and civil society representatives to honour the victims of the tragedy. The event was attended by Karwan Jamal Tahir, High Representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government, alongside officials from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Iraq in the United Kingdom, relatives of victims of Halabja, and representatives of Kurdish and civil organisations from across the four parts of Kurdistan.

The ceremony took place beside the “Halabja and Anfal” memorial tree, planted seven years ago in the park by the Mayor of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to commemorate the victims of the Halabja massacre and the wider Anfal campaign.

Opening the ceremony, KRG High Representative delivered remarks honouring the victims and recalling the human suffering caused by the attack. He noted that the gathering aimed to remember those who lost their lives and the parents who, in the final moments of the attack, tried to shield their children from the deadly chemical agents. “The crime of Halabja was not only a military assault, but a wound inflicted on humanity. We are gathered here to ensure that the world does not forget this atrocity.” he said.

Several other speakers also addressed the crowd, stressing the importance of continued remembrance so that such crimes are neither forgotten nor repeated. They called for greater international awareness and support for the Kurdish cause, emphasising the need to prevent similar atrocities in the future.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, participants laid flowers at the memorial tree in tribute to the victims, observing a moment of reflection in their memory.

London
16th March 2026