Press Release
Norwegian Government recognises Saddam Hussein’s genocide - Justice4Genocide calls on the British Government to do the same
22 November 2012
The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, in a recent parliamentary debate recognised the judgement of the Iraqi High Court that Saddam Hussein’s’ Anfal campaign, including the chemical weapons attack on Halabja, constituted genocide.
The debate was attended by Sabah Ahmed Mohammed, the Minister of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs from the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as over one hundred people from the Norwegian Kurdish community.
Akhtar Chaudhry, the Deputy Speaker of the Norwegian Parliament who initiated the debate, earlier this year visited Halabja and the memorial to the 5,000 Kurdish men, women and children, who were gassed to death in the chemical weapons attack of March 16 1988. Mr Chaudhry acknowledged the painful past of the Kurds and highlighted the importance of learning the lessons of Halabja to ensure that chemical weapons are not used again, either in Kurdistan or worldwide.
The Justice4Genocide campaign now calls on the British Government to recognize this targeted act of mass murder as genocide. Today, Justice4Genocide asks the public to sign its petition and urge the British Government to recognize the genocide. Recognition is the first step in achieving justice for the survivors and victims of the genocide.
Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, Kurdistan Regional Government High Representative to the UK, said, “It is time for the British Government to follow the example of its Norwegian counterpart and recognize the atrocities which befell the Kurdish people in Iraq. Kurdish families continue to suffer the effects of the chemical attacks and there are still cases of babies being born with deformities as a result. The companies which sold these weapons are still operating and need to be brought to justice.”
Ms Rahman added, “By signing this petition, British citizens will be giving their support to the Kurdish men, women and children who were killed in Saddam Hussein’s genocide. Please sign the petition today and help us achieve justice for the Iraqi Kurds.”
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