Press Release: Remembering Halabja – Fourteen Years since the Massacre 

On this sad and tragic day fourteen years ago, the Government of Iraq committed one of modern history’s most tragic crimes. The indiscriminant and unmerciful destruction of the town of Halabja with the use of Chemical Weapons, left 5000 men, woman and children slaughtered and more than 10,000 injured. 

Fourteen years since the massacre, the people of Halabja still suffer from the effects of the attack, including a much higher prevalence of major medical disorders such as cancers, birth defects and miscarriages as well as the irreparable damage done to the environment. 

Halabja was not the only instance in which the Government of Iraq used chemical weapons against its own people. An independent study has revealed that chemical and biological weapons have been used in attacks on over 255 towns and villages in Iraqi Kurdistan with casualties not less than those in Halabja. 

The tragic events of Halabja 1988, gives a clear indication of the threat Weapons of Mass Destruction poses to the international community and world peace at large. Therefore it is the duty of the International Community to prevent such instances happening again – not to the Kurds – not to any one. 

We ask the United States, the rest of the international community and the United Nations to take all measures necessary to prevent the proliferation and more importantly the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction again. 

Regimes, terrorist organizations and others whom continue to threaten the world at large with their Weapons of Mass Destructions should have these capabilities completely eliminated, and their desire to rebuild or reacquire such weapons brought to an end. 

Those who have used them to terrorize innocent people must be brought before an International Criminal Tribunal, to face War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and Crimes of Genocide. 

In memory of the thousands who died on that day, March 16th should be a day when the whole world stands against the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction. 

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