In Iraqi Kurdistan, remembering Halabja Genocide is not just a history, it is a Warning.
On March 16, 1988, exactly 38 years ago, the former dictator of Iraq Saddam Hussein and his totalitarian regime launched a weapon of mass destruction and chemical attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja, which at that time was suspected of collaborating with Iran, killing thousands of civilians. Thirty-eight years later, thousands of survivors remain haunted by those traumatic experience,
In that chemical attack, eleven members of my distant relatives were martyred during the bombing ordered by former dictator Saddam Hussein on March 16, 1988, in the town of Halabja, a Kurdish city located at the edge of eastern Iraq and the high Iranian mountains. I remember we were making home made masks from coals and a piece of cloth shaped like the masks we wore during the Covid-19 Pandemic in preparation for another chemical attach as the regime did not hesitate to crush the Kurdish dissident voices and those who revolted against his tyrannical rule.
I remember on that day I was less than 10 years old and many of my relatives come to our house hiding from the former regime. The entire neighburhood of Sulaimani was in dark smoke of chemical attack. Thousands were killed and thousands displaced to Iran. According to Human Rights Watch investigation on that single day five thousand civilians including women, children and elderly were massacred in Halabja and its surrounding areas.
That chemical attack has become a symbol of "Kurdish Martyrdom". The entire international community were silent at that time and no one country defended the Kurdish people because Saddam Hussien was fighting Iran and the communists at that time and he was an alley of the Western world at that time.
For thousands of Kurdish people the attack has shaped their lives- a traumatic memory passed down from one generation to the others. The Kurdish nation will never forget that they were left alone for their destiny and no one come to rescue them. The world has not yet made adequate reparations and compensations for nearly 10,000 people killed, bombed, displaced and seperated from their loved ones.
One may ask why every year the Kurds commemorate the Halabja Genocide. My answer is that temembering Halabja genocide is important for several deeply human, political, and historical reasons: firstly, it is important to honor the victims, it is a way to preserve their dignity and ensure their suffering is not forgotten, secondly, to prevent future atrocities, remembering it strengthens global awareness against such crimes, reinforces international norms like the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’s mission to eliminate chemical weapons. Thirdly, to document truth and resist denial; as genocides are often followed by denial or distortion. Keeping the memory of Halabja alive protects historical truth and counters attempts to minimize or rewrite what happened. Fourth, to strengthen Kurdish identity and collective memory. For Kurds, Halabja is not just a tragedy—it is a defining moment in modern history. It shapes political awareness, unity, and the demand for rights and protection. Fifth, to promote justice and accountability. Remembering Halabja keeps pressure on institutions and governments to recognize crimes as genocide, prosecute those responsible, and support survivors.
Finally, it is important to educate future generations. Teaching younger generations about Halabja helps build a culture that rejects violence, dictatorship, and the use of weapons of mass destruction. Also to highlight the dangers of silence from international community, The global response at the time was limited. Remembering Halabja reminds the world of the consequences when powerful actors fail to act against crimes.
All in all, the Kurds have a famous proverb that they have no friends but the mountains. Unfortunately on that day even the mountains did not protect them. They have every right to be fearful and not to allow another war crime, crimes against humanity and war crimes to be committed against them. As the saying goes, "Never forget, Never Again".
In the past, I have had the honor of supporting an international legal team who were documenting and archiving the Halabja Genocide so that those who committed the crimes be legally held accountable and adequate reparations and compensations is made to to the survivors and the relatives of the victims. Below are some photos of my activities on the case of Halabja Genocide when I was accompanying EU Ambassador to Halabja Memorial Place as well as attending the court for the trial of those companies that sold chemical weapons to the former regime.
The Halabja genocide is not just a Kurdish tragedy. It is a human tragedy. And remembering it is not optional—it is a responsibility.
We remember Halabja to honor those who never had the chance to grow old.
We remember Halabja because forgetting invites repetition.
We remember Halabja because silence, in 1988, allowed the world to look away while a people were being destroyed.
Today, when we speak of human rights, justice, and international law, Halabja must be part of that conversation. Because the failure to act then is a lesson for now.
Memory is resistance.
Memory is justice.
Memory is survival.
Halabja lives—not only in grief, but in the determination of a people who refuse to be erased.
#Halabja #NeverForget #Kurdistan #HumanRights #GenocideAwareness
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