The Co-Presidency of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council released a statement paying tribute to the victims of the Anfal campaign carried out by the Iraqi Ba’ath regime against the Kurdish people in 1988.
The KCK statement on Tuesday said: “Today marks the anniversary of the Anfal campaign, one of the most brutal, cruel, and agonizing massacres in human history, carried out by the Iraqi Ba’ath regime against the Kurdish people. We once again strongly condemn this inhumane and savage massacre, which aimed to completely annihilate our people. At the same time, we honor with respect those who lost their lives in the course of the Anfal campaign. We deeply feel the immense pain of the people of all Kurdistan and we affirm our determination to intensify our struggle to successfully lead our people out of the grip of massacres and genocide and into freedom.”
The statement continued: “Undoubtedly, the conscience of humanity has condemned this genocide committed against the Kurdish people. Our people place great value on and trust the conscience of humanity. However, despite these attacks being carried out openly and over the course of years, neither the states nor international institutions have responded. While our people were groaning in agony under the massacres, states pursued a policy of self-interest and maintained their relations with the brutal Saddam regime. Just as in Dersim and Geliyê Zilan, during the Anfal campaign as well, international institutions acting under the guidance of states and hegemonic powers remained indifferent, thereby emboldening the perpetrators of the massacres. In particular, hegemonic powers have paved the way for massacres and genocides through the policies they have pursued in the Middle East. As a result of this policy, other peoples of the Middle East have also been subjected to massacres and genocides.”
On the anniversary of the Anfal campaign, KCK commemorates the hundreds of thousands who fell victim to these atrocities, the threat of massacres and genocide against the Kurdish people persists, saying: “Assimilationist and denialist forces are still plotting massacres and genocide against our people and are attempting to forge ties with every possible power for this purpose. Indeed, having witnessed such a threat emerge most recently in Rojava, our people rose up with a spirit of national unity and patriotism, standing alongside the fighters and people of Rojava to prevent the outbreak of a new massacre. The stance our people have taken demonstrates just how vital democratic national unity is. Recognizing this, all Kurdish patriotic forces must strive to advance democratic national unity.”
On this occasion, KCK called on forces acting with an outdated mindset to abandon their insistence, and urged states and international institutions not to remain indifferent to attacks against the Kurdish people, to abandon their self-serving policies, and not to create the conditions for massacres.
“Once again, we honor with respect those who lost their lives due to the Anfal campaign and bow before their memories,” the statement concluded.
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