ECHOES OF GENOCIDE FINDING JUSTICE | FROM ANFAL TO ISIS | SURVIVOR STORIES ECHOES OF GENOCIDE CONFERENCE ON THE 30 th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HALABJA GENOCIDE HOSTED BY THE KURDISTAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED STATES THE NEWSEUM - WASHINGTON, D.C. MARCH 13, 2018 CONTENTS STATEMENTS ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HALABJA 2 WHAT IS GENOCIDE 16 TEN STAGES OF GENOCIDE 18 BROTHERHOOD OF THE SHAKEN 20 THE POLITICS OF GENOCIDE 22 PESHMERGA UNDER ATTACK 28 THE LAST ‘FIRMAN’ 32 YEZIDI WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES WITH THE PRESS 36 REMNANTS OF IRAQ’S CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY 40 STORIES OF SURVIVAL 46 FOLLOW THE MONEY 54 PURSUING SADDAM’S CHEMICAL FIXER 58 A LEGAL MAZE 61 SPONSORS 64 Cover photograph courtesy of REZA, rezaphoto.org; Illustration (left) by Lukman Ahmad STATEMENTS ON THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HALABJA GENOCIDE were aimed at eliminating the Kurdish SOMETHING WE CAN national identity. We can never forget NEVER ESCAPE that, for decades, a systematic attempt NECHIRVAN BARZANI was made to eradicate the Kurdish Prime Minister people from the state of Iraq. It is Kurdistan Regional Government something that we can never escape; it lives on in our memories, our literature, our culture, and our politics. It is a part I warmly welcome you all, especially of all that we think and do. Every day in those who have come from far away our region, families sit at dinner with and abroad to participate in this empty seats at the table, once filled by important conference. You are here loved ones who were slaughtered by the for a valuable and noble purpose. You previous regime. have gathered today to remember the Those of us who lived through those atrocities that were inflicted on the city horrific times know that the objective of Halabja on March 16, 1988 by the of Hussein’s systematic attacks was Baathist Regime of Saddam Hussein. nothing less than the complete and More than 5,000 civilian Kurds— total destruction of Kurdish culture, Photograph by Zardasht Osman women, children, and elderly—died institutions, and people. We also know instantly, and thousands more were that these crimes were committed injured and survived only to suffer against others in Iraq, and while the long-term effects from the chemicals focus of our work here is specific to the they were exposed to. Kurds, we must not forget that we were The endless savagery toward the not the only victims. land and people of Kurdistan through Since the 2003 liberation of Iraq, Anfal operations and chemical attacks mass graves continue to be found in 2 3 STATEMENTS the deserts and other parts of Iraq. steps have been taken by Baghdad Since the term “genocide” was There have been several cases where to solve them, and this makes the STOPPING THE CYCLE coined in the 1940s, we have heard cries we have returned the remains of newly Kurdistani people doubtful of their OF ATROCITIES of “never again.” But still genocides discovered victims for reburial in their future. BAYAN SAMI ABDUL RAHMAN continue and chemical weapons are part homeland. Despite the years that have We all have to make the memories Kurdistan Regional Government of the arsenal. As I write this, innocent passed, the memory of the genocide is of our sacrifices a driving force to Representative to the United States civilians have been gassed and starved very close. encourage us to build a prosperous, in Syria while Rohingya flee violence in Following the liberation of Iraq in stable, and bright future. We must and Myanmar. 2003, we thought the dark days were will continue to do our best to not only Over the last three decades, the suffering We hear about the “responsibility to behind us. We were excited to build recover but also to look forward and of the people of Halabja has come to protect.” But ironically, protection often a new, prosperous, and democratic offer our people security, peace, and symbolize all of the atrocities committed arrives too late—if at all—as a response Iraq. A country where the rights of all prosperity. We must be confident that against the people of Kurdistan. rather than as a safeguard. Early warning different religious and ethnic groups the blood of hundreds of thousands of The attack was not an isolated signs tend to go unheeded, perhaps were protected and guaranteed. victims will not have been shed in vain. incident, but part of a carefully planned because the inclination to protect is Unfortunately, we were wrong. We are a forward-looking and optimistic and executed genocide campaign by often hindered by political expediency The brutal and sudden emergence of people but we will never forget what Saddam Hussein aimed at exterminating and self-interest. ISIS in Iraq led to unspeakable atrocities befell our people. the Kurdish people. During his rule, We hear talk of reconciliation. But against ethnic and religious minorities, We must ensure that those who 182,000 Kurds were killed in the Anfal how can the past be reconciled without particularly in the Nineveh Plains. The died in the genocide would be proud campaign; 8,000 Barzani men and boys justice? Those who were targeted by genocide committed by ISIS against of what we are creating with their were murdered; thousands of Faylee ISIS have received little justice. And Yezidis, Christians, and others will legacy. History must show that the Kurds disappeared, and thousands more there have been precious few cases haunt us for many years to come. While Kurdish people suffered great losses, but were oppressed, abused, and killed by where enablers and executors of the ISIS threat hasn’t been destroyed achieved great things. the Baathist regime. The genocide also decades-old atrocities in Iraq have been completely in Iraq, we face many I want to thank the organizers of this saw the destruction of 4,500 villages and punished. serious problems with the current Iraqi conference and those individuals and the razing of cities such as Qala Diza, The people of Halabja, for example, authority. The principles of accord and groups who have helped us to shed more tearing at the fabric of Kurdish society have yet to be compensated for what partnership, which were the basis of the light on the darkest times in Kurdistan’s and economy. It was not only Kurds who they have endured. The companies new Iraq, have been ignored; moreover, history. suffered under Hussein. and individuals who sold chemicals the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional Again, thank you very much for For in Iraq, violence and genocide to Hussein’s regime continue to make rights are being violated by the Iraqi attending and I wish you all success. n is cyclical. In 2014, it was the Yezidis, profits and have put the guilt of their government. Christians, and people of other faiths complicity in genocide behind them. Following the incidents of October in Nineveh who suffered. This time the Even Frans van Anraat, the Dutch 16, the Kurdistan Regional Government perpetrators were ISIS terrorists, some businessman convicted of complicity has shown full readiness to solve the of them former friends and neighbors of in war crimes for selling chemical outstanding issues based on the Iraqi their victims. weapons to Hussein, will be freed in constitution. Even though a dialogue All of it raises a question: How can four years. Meanwhile, the victims of his has started, and despite our hopes for people across Iraq and the international profiteering are dead, struggling with this to be a new beginning for solving community ensure that we halt the cycle psychological trauma and ill health, or all issues, unfortunately no serious of mass atrocities? mourning loved ones who were killed. 4 5 Photograph by Marco Di Lauro, Getty Images 6 7 STATEMENTS Justice has, by and large, evaded our ourselves for the beginning of a new of villagers, and relocation to collective chemical attacks are considered country. In its absence, the culture of day in the city that we call home. Little camps. genocide under the terms of the treaty. impunity that has been Iraq’s hallmark did we know that within a few short Hussein’s regime tried time and After 30 years, we continue to has continued. It will leave more hours, something would occur that time again, using aggressive action, ask the international community to wounds to fester as the years go by. The would change our city forever. On that to exterminate the Kurds. It did support us in recognizing the chemical international community must act more day, fighter jets under the command of not succeed. Following the Halabja attacks as genocide. Further, we ask the quickly when seeds of genocide, ethnic Saddam Hussein’s authoritarian regime chemical attacks, more chemical international community to continue cleansing, and mass atrocities are sewn. conducted chemical attacks against our attacks were carried out in other areas to aid us in bringing justice to those Despite the adversity we face and innocent and defenseless people. The in Kurdistan. In addition, the Hussein involved in the attacks in addition to on this 30th anniversary of the Halabja bombardment resulted in 5,000 deaths regime conducted the Anfal campaign’s those responsible for providing the chemical attack and genocide, I am and the injury of thousands more. extended military attack where 182,000 Hussein regime with the raw materials heartened by the resilience of the people Others were forced to flee to Iran. civilian Kurds were killed. They were that made the attacks possible. of Kurdistan. Our history is strewn with The attacks that took place on that buried alive in the deserts of Iraq only We continue to urge the tragedy and we all have our own loved day were the most brutal attacks that to be found when mass graves were international community, humanitarian, ones to mourn.