Peregraf
On the 37th anniversary of the chemical attack on Halabja, Kurdistan Regional officials called on the Iraqi government to complete the legal procedures for recognizing Halabja as a province and to compensate the families of the victims of the 1988 massacre.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, in a statement marking the occasion, emphasized the necessity of justice and reparations for the victims. "On this occasion, we emphasize once again that the people of Halabja and all the victims of genocide and Anfal must be compensated and provided with the best services in all areas. It is the duty of the Iraqi government to fulfill its legal and moral responsibility towards the victims and all its obligations towards Halabja and its residents and to achieve justice for them, and to complete all the procedures for the governorship of Halabja. The international community must continue its efforts to ensure that such crimes are not repeated anywhere in the world."
Similarly, Kurdistan Regional Prime Minister Masrour Barzani criticized the federal government for its failure to fulfill constitutional obligations regarding Halabja. "Unfortunately, the federal government has not fulfilled its constitutional and legal responsibility to compensate the families of the victims and martyrs of Halabja and Anfal. Even so far, the House of Representatives has not approved the process of becoming a province of Halabja. Therefore, we demand that the sacrifices of Halabja be compensated properly and that the governorship be approved as soon as possible."
The chemical attack on Halabja, carried out by the Ba’ath regime on March 16, 1988, resulted in the deaths of more than 5,000 people, left thousands injured, and displaced many more. Several children also went missing in the aftermath of the attack.
Today, Halabja has a population of over 120,000 and comprises Halabja district, along with Khurmal, Biara, Sirwan, and Bamo districts. While Halabja has been recognized as a province within the Kurdistan Region for 11 years, it has yet to receive full provincial status from the Iraqi government.
On March 13, 2014, then-Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani signed a decree establishing Halabja as the fourth province of the Kurdistan Region, based on a Kurdistan Parliament decision from September 22, 1999. This decision had initially designated Halabja, along with Soran, Akre, and Ranya, as future provinces. The Kurdistan Region authorities argue that under Article 141 of the Iraqi Constitution, which upholds pre-2005 Kurdistan laws, Halabja’s provincial status should be recognized by Baghdad.
Although the Iraqi parliament declared Halabja a province on December 31, 2013, the process remains incomplete. On March 16, 2021, the Kurdistan Parliament sent a memorandum urging the Iraqi government to finalize the necessary legal procedures. Progress was made when, on March 13, 2023, the Iraqi Council of Ministers approved the bill to establish Halabja as a province and referred it to parliament. The decision followed an assessment by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning, which concluded that Halabja meets the criteria to become a province.
Despite these steps, the finalization of Halabja’s provincial status and compensation for victims remains unresolved. The Kurdistan Regional Government continues to push for the recognition and justice that the people of Halabja have long awaited.