During the demonstrations, participants urged the Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraqi authorities to pursue full membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to ensure that perpetrators of war crimes committed during the Anfal operations are brought before justice. Protestors carried banners and signs demanding accountability and expressing solidarity with the survivors and families affected by the atrocities.

Local media outlets were present to cover the demonstrations, amplifying the voices of those calling for justice and recognition. KONCICC representatives emphasized that 38 years after one of the darkest chapters in Kurdish history, the pursuit of justice remains both a moral and legal imperative.

By organizing these events, KONCICC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting international justice, human rights, and the prevention of genocide ensuring that the memory of Halabja continues to inspire action and accountability.

On March 16th, 1988, the Iraqi regime led by Saddam Hussein carried out a chemical attack on the city of Halabja near the Iranian border. The attack left thousands of people dead in the streets, including many women and children, and injured countless others.

This attack is recognized as the deadliest use of chemical weapons in the world. The OPCW has designated this day as the anniversary of the chemical attack in Halabja.

Fortunately, thanks to the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997, there is now an internationally binding law that prohibits the use of chemical weapons, signed by 193 countries. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed fear of the return of chemical weapons in the world.

The KONCICC calls upon the international community to renew its commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997.

The High Criminal Court in Baghdad reviewed the case of the Barzani massacre today, 28th of December 2025, involving three defendants implicated in the disappearance and extermination of Barzani people in Anbar, Fallujah, and the Al-Shiha desert. The defendants are Saadoun Sabri, Jamil Al-Qaisi and Shaker Taha Yahya Ghafour Al-Douri.

Six victims: mothers, sisters, and relatives of the victims of the Barzani massacre attended the session. The court sentenced Shaker Taha Yahya Ghafour Al-Douri. The ruling was upheld based on Articles 12 and 15 of the Iraqi High Criminal Court Law No. 10 and Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code No. 111 of 1969 and ordered the release of Saadoun Sabri and Jamil Al-Qaisi due to insufficient evidence proving the defendant’s involvement in the case.

On July 31, 1983, an estimated 8,000 members of the Barzani tribe were rounded up and abducted from their homes in the Kurdistan Region’s Zagros Mountains before being transported to the deserts of southern Iraq, where they were executed on the orders of the Baathist regime. The atrocity was an act of collective punishment of the Barzanis, whose leaders were active in Kurdish revolts against the Iraqi regime. Men and boys were the primary targets, but women, children, and the elderly were all victims. – Rudaw

Other press releases on this case: The new region: Baath-era official sentenced to death for Barzani Genocide , Shafaq: Iraq hands death sentence to ex-Baath officer over Barzani crimes

Event details
Join survivors, researchers, and advocates as they share lived experiences from Shengal, Halabja, the Anfal genocide, and Kurdish mass graves, accompanied by documentary screenings. The session will be moderated by Mr Jamal Majid Faraj and will feature several speakers, including Ms Sonia Sayda Issa, Mr Luqman Abdulqadir, Mr Salar Mahmood, Mr Ayad Ismail Mahmammad, Mr Adalat Omar, Mr Habil Ahmed, and Mr Dara Mohammed Ali Salih.
• Date: Wednesday, 3 December 2025
• Time: 08:30–09:45 AM
• Venue: Hall Yangtze 2, World Forum, The Hague, Netherlands

This side event is organized by the Kurdish Organizations Network for the International Criminal Court (KONCICC) and is open exclusively to registered ASP24 participants.

On 3th september of this year, in Sulaimani Opinion of Sulaimani Province in the hearing of the compensation case of chemical weapons victims against foreign companies.

On September 21, he visited Samawa Court, the National Security Equipment Office, and Karkhi Third Court in Baghdad to investigate the trial of Anfal criminal Hajjaj, head of the evil prison of Ngra Salman military base, who is one of the criminals in the Anfal case.

The Anfal campaign was one of the darkest chapters in modern Iraqi history, a genocidal operation carried out by Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath regime against the Kurdish people between February and September 1988. According to Human Rights Watch’s landmark report Genocide in Iraq: The Anfal Campaign Against the Kurds, the campaign involved mass executions, chemical weapon attacks, forced disappearances, and the destruction of thousands of villages, with evidence drawn from captured Iraqi documents and survivor testimonies

In recent years, the use of the death penalty in Iraq has surged dramatically, drawing condemnation and concern from international organizations. In 2024, Iraq carried out at least 63 executions almost quadruple the figure from the previous year according to Amnesty International, making it one of the leading executioners globally alongside Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Surge in Executions

Reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch highlight that this alarming increase marks the highest level of executions in nearly a decade, echoing a broader regional trend of rising capital punishment. Authorities have particularly targeted individuals accused of terrorism or affiliation with the Islamic State group, with numerous executions carried out following collective and expedited trials.

Judicial Flaws and Due Process Concerns

Major organizations, including Amnesty International and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, have voiced serious concerns about systemic flaws in Iraq’s judiciary. Many death sentences are based on confessions allegedly extracted under torture, while defendants face limited access to legal counsel, hasty trials, and restricted appeals processes. Human Rights Watch specifically notes a surge in executions that do not meet international fair trial standards, rendering many of them unlawful.

International Outcry

The global response has been critical. Recent reporting by The Guardian references Amnesty’s annual review, noting that Iraq’s execution practices drew widespread outrage throughout 2024, with calls to halt the death penalty and address rampant abuses in the judicial system. The World Coalition highlights that such practices threaten innocent lives, particularly when evidence is weak or proceedings lack transparency, and that the system’s shortcomings are not limited to terrorism cases but extend to all facets of criminal justice.

The Plight of Women and Families

Women have faced especially harsh consequences under Iraq’s death penalty framework. Many sentenced women are convicted for mere association such as familial ties to alleged terrorists—rather than for violent acts themselves, revealing further injustices in a deeply flawed legal system.

Conclusion

Recent years have seen Iraq emerge as one of the most active users of the death penalty, with mass executions and unfair judicial processes drawing international criticism. The combined analyses of The Guardian, Human Rights Watch, and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty underscore a pattern of increasing executions, rights violations, and calls for systemic reform.

References: dw.com , amnesty.org , deathpenaltyinfo.org , ohchr.org , ecpm.org , euaa.europa.eu

Event Highlights
Erbil
• Seminar: A dynamic seminar on the ICC’s impact on global justice and its significance in Iraq.
• Press Conference: KONCICC leaders addressed media representatives, sharing perspectives from the seminar.
• Demonstration: Supporters gathered for a demonstration reinforcing commitment to international justice and the ICC’s mission.
Kirkuk
• Topzawa Concentration Camp: A demonstration and press event at this historic site, stressing the need to remember past atrocities and support the ICC’s preventive efforts.
Chamchamal
• Anfal Monument: A general meeting, demonstration, and press release at the Anfal Monument highlighted the ongoing pursuit of justice and accountability.
Kalar
• Grave Site: A press conference at a significant local grave site provided reflection on past tragedies and the ICC’s justice-seeking role.
Halabja
• Victims Society of Halabja Chemical Attack: A demonstration and press release honored the victims of the Halabja chemical attack and reaffirmed the ICC’s dedication to confronting such crimes.
Sulaymaniyah
• Press Conference and Demonstration: Participants advocated for international justice and spotlighted the ICC’s ongoing work.

Two statements will be issued regarding the demands of the Anfal victims, calling for Iraq to become a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as soon as possible to prevent another genocide like Anfal from occurring.

The campaign to thank the ICC and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will also continue across Kurdistan, led by networks and organizations dedicated to preventing genocide and the use of weapons of mass destruction.

We commemorated the victims of chemical weapons in Erbil, Sulaimani, Kirkuk, Chamchamal, Halabja, and Hasar on the 37th anniversary of the Halabja chemical attack. The event highlighted efforts in chemical weapons prevention, genocide awareness, and disarmament advocacy.

During the activities, we presented key demands, including justice and compensation for victims, accountability for perpetrators and chemical weapons manufacturers, and measures to prevent future atrocities like Halabja. We also reiterated our call for Iraq to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This year’s event was held under the slogan: “Thanks to the OPCW and ICC—protecting the world from genocide and chemical weapons.”

Want to know more about KONCICC? Read about other activities & events on our site!