On March 17, 2025, the UK Parliament hosted an event to mark the 37th anniversary of the chemical attack on Halabja, which took place on March 16, 1988. During this tragic event, the former Iraqi Ba’athist regime unleashed chemical gas over Halabja, resulting in the deaths of approximately 5,000 men, women, and children, and leaving more than 10,000 individuals wounded.

The event was sponsored by John Slinger, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Kurdistan Region, in collaboration with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) UK High Representation.

In his opening remarks, Slinger reflected on his experiences visiting the Kurdistan Region and emphasized the need for justice – a central theme of the remembrance ceremony. Attendees observed a minute of silence to honor the victims of Halabja and the genocidal Anfal Campaign. Slinger also underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the UK and the Kurdistan Region.

Karwan Tahir, the KRG High Representative to the UK, expressed his gratitude to those present and acknowledged the historical support the UK Parliament has extended to the Kurdistan Region, as well as its recognition of the genocide. “The Halabja massacre serves as a constant reminder of the oppression we once endured,” he stated.

Tahir further asserted that the crimes committed against the Kurdish people were barbaric acts that fit the definition of genocide, perpetrated against a nation striving for peace, democracy, and freedom. He noted that the dictatorial regime aimed to annihilate this spirit and prevent the Kurds from exercising their legitimate rights.

“While we might say, ‘No friends but the mountains,’ there have been many instances that challenge this notion,” Tahir noted. “We are grateful for the support we have received, particularly from the UK.”

He emphasized the KRG’s commitment to ensuring that their stories are heard and remembered on an international scale. Tahir highlighted ongoing efforts to educate people about the Halabja attack and the Anfal Campaign, ensuring that the horrors of the past are not forgotten and that such atrocities are never repeated.

The attendees then heard from two survivors of the Halabja attack, including Kamaran Nawroz, who provided a moving testimony detailing the horrors they experienced – from the initial moments of the attack to the subsequent years filled with trauma and recovery.

Brian Brivati, an academic historian and author who is a long-standing member of the KRG’s Genocide Advisory Taskforce, spoke about the necessity of recognizing Halabja and Anfal as acts of genocide and pursuing justice for closure. He stressed the importance of listening to survivors and expressed his belief in the need for greater freedom and independence for the Kurdish people to prevent future violence and achieve true justice.

Baroness Emma Nicholson, Chair of the Iraq-Britain Business Council, later thanked the audience at the UK Parliament for commemorating this tragic occasion. “As a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, we will continue to support the victims and survivors of genocide in Kurdistan and seek justice for them. More importantly, we will work tirelessly to prevent genocide from occurring again,” Baroness Nicholson concluded.