Anfal Victims' Families Demand Justice

PUKMEDIA

Families of the Anfal campaign victims, gathering at the Nugra Salman Prison Castle.

A delegation representing the families of victims of the Anfal campaign and genocide crimes visited the Iraqi Martyrs Foundation in Baghdad to demand justice for the families of those who perished during these atrocities, while also commemorating the tragedies that unfolded at Nugra Salman Prison Castle, the site of mass graves containing the remains of Kurdish victims of the Anfal campaign. 

Halgurd Hama Gharib Saeed, a member of the delegation and the family of three victims of the Anfal genocide (his mother and two brothers), told PUKMEDIA: "The delegation comprised families of victims of the Anfal genocide, numbering approximately 400 citizens from various regions, including Sulaymaniyah, Chamchamal, Garmian, and Koya—areas that endured some of the gravest atrocities perpetrated by the former Ba’ath regime."

"Departing on the evening of 19 April  2025, we gathered the following morning in front of the Iraqi Martyrs Foundation building in Baghdad to demand justice for the victims’ families, the return of the martyrs’ remains, and their identification," he said.

He added: "The Martyrs Foundation demonstrated commendable professionalism by ensuring the security of our delegation during its visit to Nugra Salman Prison Castle in Samawah Governorate. Our purpose was to bear witness to the atrocities committed by the former Ba'ath regime—crimes that have left an indelible mark on Iraq’s history, including the existence of mass graves where countless victims, including our loved ones, were buried alive beneath the desert sands."

"The emotional impact of standing at these sites was profound, as we recalled the suffering inflicted upon so many innocent people," he noted. "We were received with respect by local tribal leaders and the mayor of Nugra Salman."

According to Gharib, the visit was arranged by lawmaker Mala Karim, deputy head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) bloc in the Iraqi Parliament. 

"Mala Karim is one of the lawmakers who is working diligently on the Anfal file and defending our cause," he said.

He also urged the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to also "work diligently to return the remains of all martyrs of the Anfal genocide, compensate the families of the victims, and enact laws that prevent the recurrence of such crimes and tragedies against the Kurdish people."

Saddam Hussein's fallen Ba'ath dictatorial regime launched the Anfal campaign in February 1988, targeting Kurdish civilians and lasting until September of that year. It is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous cases of state-sponsored mass murder during Iraq's Ba'ath regime. 

The military and regular forces, including the First Corps in Kirkuk and the Fifth Corps in Erbil, as well as the Air Force, Special Forces, Republican Guard, Commando Forces, security and intelligence services, military intelligence, and chemical and biological weapons departments, were all mobilised to carry out these operations. The Anfal atrocities killed over 182,000 Kurdish civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.

According to statistics, 270 mass graves have been discovered since Iraq's liberation, with many more still to be found. The majority of these graves are concentrated in the area between Diwaniyah, Samawah, and Najaf provinces. 



PUKMEDIA