Masrour Barzani on Anfal Anniversary: Baghdad Must Fulfill Its Responsibilities Toward Victims’ Families
ARK News.. The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, issued a statement on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, marking the 38th anniversary of the Anfal Campaign, stressing that the Kurdistan Region’s entity and achievements are the result of immense sacrifices, not a grant from any party, and calling on the federal government to uphold its constitutional obligations toward the families of the victims.
The following is the full text of the statement:
“Today, we commemorate the tragedy of the ill-fated Anfal campaigns, which constitute one of the most heinous crimes of ethnic cleansing and genocide committed by the former Iraqi regime against the people of Kurdistan.
These atrocities left behind profound suffering, marked by the disappearance and martyrdom of thousands of innocent citizens, and the eradication of thousands of villages and towns across Kurdistan. This genocide and the massacres committed against our people must remain alive in our conscience and collective memory, so that future generations understand that our present achievements were not easily attained, nor were they a favor or gift from anyone.
Rather, they are the outcome of a bitter struggle and the pure blood shed by thousands of proud martyrs to nourish the land of Kurdistan. As we mark this anniversary, we reaffirm the necessity for the federal government to assume its moral and constitutional responsibilities, and fulfilling its obligations to provide fair and adequate compensation to the families and relatives of the martyrs and of Anfal victims.
On the 38th anniversary of Anfal, peace be upon the pure souls of the victims and all the martyrs of Kurdistan.”
Masrour Barzani
Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region
14/4/2026
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