President Rashid Visits Halabja Martyrs Monument and Cemetery

On the 35th anniversary of the Halabja massacre on Thursday, March 16, 2023, the President of the Republic of Iraq, Abdullatif Jamal Rashid paid his respects to the martyrs and visited Halabja Martyrs Monument and Cemetery. The President was accompanied by the Iraqi Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities, Ahmed al-Badrani. His Excellency was received by the Governor of Halabja, Azad Tawfiq alongside the senior officials in the province.

President Rashid laid a wreath at the cemetery, then he recited al-Fatiha in memory of the martyrs, who were killed as a result of the chemical attack on the city, one of the atrocious crimes committed against the Kurdish people by the former dictator Saddam Hussein.

While delivering a speech, His Excellency stated that the genocidal campaign carried out in Halabja shocked the international community, adding that Halabja has become a symbol of sacrifice and redemption for everyone.

Furthermore, President Rashid said that the tragic events that took place in Halabja call upon all of us for working together to ensure that these types of crimes must never be allowed again, in the Kurdistan Region or any other part of the world.

Additionally, the use of weapons of mass destruction against civilian areas in 1988 in Halabja is a key reason behind drawing the attention of the international community to the fact that brutal crimes and genocidal acts were being committed by the dictatorship against the Iraqi, and villages and towns in the Kurdistan Region were particularly affected, HE, reaffirmed. Halabja's role in exposing the former regime's crimes cannot be denied or forgotten, he added.

The President paid tribute to the ultimate sacrifices made by the people of Halabja and hailed the resilience and determination of the victims' families while noting that the sacrifices made in the struggle against the brutality of the al-Baath regime cannot be denied or forgotten.

The decision, which was taken by the Council of Ministers, on recognising Halabja’s governorate status was commended by His Excellency President Rashid, as he congratulated the population of Halabja.

Moreover, he said that "we are proud to have played a role in reaching this decision". He hoped that the parliament will facilitate a smooth completion of the process, adding that adequate budget allocation would be ensured for rendering better public services for the Halabja's population.

President Rashid called for stepping up efforts toward further developments, promoting reconstruction, and improving living standards in the city. I am proud to be here today, he said.

 

Presedent