On Thursday, Kurdish leaders issued statements commemorating the 42nd anniversary of the Barzani Genocide, which took place during the Anfal Campaign and led to the killing of more than 8,000 innocent Barzani civilians.

“The people of Kurdistan will never forget these atrocities,” Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani posted on X.

“We must remember, Kurdistan has paid the ultimate sacrifice for its rights and its freedom, and we will never give up.”

On July 31, 1983, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered his army to round up 8,000 Barzani men – ranging in age from nine to 90 – and take them into the deserts of southern Iraq, where they were executed. 

“This atrocity was part of a broader campaign against the Kurdish people, which included the disappearance of 12,000 young Fayli Kurds, the Anfal operations in Garmian and Badinan, the chemical bombing of Halabja and other regions, as well as the forced Arabization and deportation of Kurdish citizens,” President Masoud Barzani wrote in a statement.

“The mindset that fueled these crimes was rooted in chauvinism and denial, leading to widespread suffering and stagnation across Iraq. Regrettably, there are still individuals who have not learned from history and continue to embrace this same mentality in their political actions.”

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in a statement said that they “reaffirm the rights of the victims of the Anfal of the Barzanis, the Anfal campaign, and all those who suffered under the former regime.” 

“It is imperative that the Iraqi government take all necessary steps to deliver justice and provide compensation to the victims’ families.”

Italy’s Consulate General in Erbil in a post on X underlined Italy’s “strong ties to the Kurdish people on this tragic occasion.”