President Masoud Barzani affirmed that the Kurdish people achieved their freedom through immense sacrifice, not charity, and chose forgiveness over revenge despite enduring one of history’s darkest chapters.
Speaking at a conference in Duhok dedicated to documenting the Kurdish genocide, President Barzani described the atrocities of the Anfal campaign as a systematic, state-backed attempt to eradicate an entire nation. He emphasized that the crimes spared no one—infants, mothers, youth, or the elderly—demonstrating the brutality of the campaign against the Kurdish people.
Barzani highlighted that the people of Kurdistan responded not with vengeance, but with a commitment to peace, coexistence, and rebuilding. He said that the moral strength of forgiveness defines Kurdistan’s identity and sets an example for others emerging from oppression.
The President called for continued efforts to document the genocide and secure its full international recognition, stressing that justice and remembrance are essential to preventing similar crimes in the future.
He concluded by honoring the sacrifices of the Peshmerga and the resilience of families who endured the tragedy, affirming that Kurdistan’s freedom stands as a symbol of perseverance and human dignity.