Humanitarian organization calls to prosecute Anfal genocide perpetrators, compensate families
ERBIL, Kurdistan, Iraq (North Press) – On Wednesday, head of Jack Organization concerned with the affairs of Anfal genocide victims, Ahmad Majid, called for the prosecution of the perpetrators of the genocide and the compensation of the families of the victims in the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRG).
Anfal is the name given to the genocide took place in the Kurdistan region in Iraq by the then Iraqi regime led by Saddam Hussein, where between 50,000 and 182,000 Kurds were killed.
April 14, marks the 33rd anniversary of the Anfal genocide, which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of the residents from separate areas in the Kurdistan region, including children, women and the elderly.
The families of the victims flocked to the shrines and laid wreaths in few gatherings, in implementation of the preventative measures against the spread of coronavirus.
“We organized symbolic decrees on the graves of the victims,” Ahmad Majid, head of Jack organization, said.
He stressed the need to arrest all those who were involved in the Anfal genocide, which resulted in the destruction of nearly 500 villages and the killing of 180,000 people.
Majid also demanded the financial and moral compensation for the families of the victims, and bringing the remains of the victims from the scattered cemeteries in the country and burying them in one cemetery.
He revealed that about 250 individuals are accused of their involvement in these crimes, and they are still free and roaming the country without accountability.
In a statement on this occasion, the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, said, “While our government is demanding financial and moral compensation for the families of the victims, we are working to provide the best services to the families of Anfal victims and to ensure the provision of a decent life worthy for them.”
Barzani expressed his hope that this anniversary will be a “catalyst for strengthening national unity in the region, and consolidating the spirit of reconciliation, brotherhood and peaceful coexistence among all countries of the region.”
Anfal is the name of the seventh surah in the Holy Quran, and it talks about seizure and conquest, as Saddam Hussein’s regime named this surah for the operation it carried out against the Kurds in Iraq on 8 phases.
The first Anfal took place in Sulaymaniyah governorate, through besieging Sarka Lo region on February 23 until March 9, 1988.
The second phase started in the regions of Qaradagh, Baziyan and Derbandikhan, from March 22 to April 1, 1988.
From April 7 to 20, 1988, the third Anfal began in the regions of Garmiyan, Kalar, Bawnur, Kifri, Douz, Sankaw, and Qadir Karam.
While the fourth phase completed in the borders of the region of Koya, Taq Taq, Aghjeler and Nawshwan, which started on May 3, 1988 and lasted five days.
As for the fifth, sixth and seventh phases, they took place in the vicinity of Shaqlawa and Rawandoz from May 15 to August 26, 1988.
The eight and the last phase was in the regions of Badinan, Amidi, Akri, Zakho, Sheikhan, and Dohuk, which started in August and continued until December 6, 1988.