The Presidency of the Republic Urges Global Action Against WMD on Halabja Anniversary

Baghdad – INA

Iraq’s Presidency on Sunday marked the anniversary of the chemical attack on Halabja, urging the international community to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

In a statement, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the Presidency stated "On this day, we recall with deep pain and sadness the most heinous crime in contemporary history when the dictatorial regime committed the crime of bombing the steadfast city of Halabja with internationally prohibited chemical weapons."
 
The statement explained, "This brutal crime, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of thousands of children, women, and the elderly and the destruction of numerous Kurdish villages, reflects the extent of the tyranny and injustice practiced by the former regime against defenseless Kurdish citizens in particular and the Iraqi people in general."
 
It continued, "The Halabja tragedy calls on us today to move forward in consolidating the democratic experience in our country, and to urge the international community to prevent the proliferation of internationally prohibited weapons of mass destruction, end wars and conflicts, and establish security and peace in the region and the world. We also emphasize the importance of international cooperation and coordination to document these crimes committed against citizens, as a witness to the crimes committed by dictatorial regimes against innocent people."
 
He pointed out that "commemorating this anniversary calls upon us to join efforts to immortalize this memory so that it remains prominent in the memory of future generations," stressing that "national and humanitarian responsibility calls upon us to urge the relevant authorities to expedite the transformation of Halabja into a governorate and to complete the legislative steps by the House of Representatives."