The long-running crimes was a series of crimes and events committed against our people as they did in other parts of Kurdistan, such as Barzan, Garmian, Halabja and other parts of Kurdistan in the last century.

President Barzani's message on the 33rd Anniversary of the Anfal of Bahdinan 

Thirty-three years ago, the former Iraqi Ba'ath regime in the final phase of the Anfal Campaign turned its crimes to the people of Bahdinan. After continuous bombardment and chemical attacks throughout most of the Bahdinan area, the Iraqi Government used hundreds of thousands of troops against the innocent population. The regime committed hideous crimes by killing, causing forced displacements and movements of the people to Iraqi’s deserts to be killed or become refugees in other parts of Iraq.  

The long-running crimes was a series of crimes and events committed against our people as they did in other parts of Kurdistan, such as Barzan, Garmian, Halabja and other parts of Kurdistan in the last century.

The enemies of the Kurdistani people, in front of the whole world, have used the most advanced and disgusting policies to annihilate the Kurdistani people. The people of Kurdistan had the will and cause to fight and face the oppressors and never surrender. The tyrant regime stopped at nothing and committed genocide and destruction of the environment. We were able to overcome and survive to be where we are today, but the criminals were thrown to the scraps of history.  

This is a meaningful lesson to both our people as a whole and the next generation, especially for the enemies of the Kurdistani people to say we will continue our struggle for achieving our national goal. 

On the anniversary of the Anfal of Bahdinan, we salute and send greetings to the pure souls of the martyrs and we insist the steadfast of rights for our people. The Iraqi state needs to compensate for the genocide and the crimes and injustices committed against our nation.

Masoud Barzani

August 25, 2021