Sema
President Masoud Barzani stated in a message issued today, Tuesday, on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the bombing of the Zewa refugee camp, that the crimes and genocidal campaigns carried out by the former Iraqi regime only strengthened the determination and resilience of the people of Kurdistan and the Peshmerga forces in their struggle. He stressed that “shame and defeat became the fate of the oppressors, while dignity and victory remained the destiny of the people of Kurdistan.”
In his message, President Barzani said:
“On June 9, 1985, the former Iraqi regime committed a major crime against the people of Kurdistan when its aircraft brutally bombed the Zewa refugee camp in Eastern Kurdistan.”
He noted that the inhumane attack resulted in the martyrdom and injury of hundreds of innocent women, children, elderly people, and young men.
Barzani described the tragedy as “another bloody page in the black record of the former regime,” recalling the painful event by saying:
“That day was one of the saddest and most painful days of my life. The cries and wailing of grieving mothers, the burned bodies and scattered remains of the martyrs, and the suffering and blood of the wounded shook the hearts and consciences of all people of goodwill.”
He further stated that the purpose behind the genocide committed in Zewa and other crimes was to break the will of the refugees, the Peshmerga, and the freedom fighters of Kurdistan. However, he added:
“Those crimes only increased the determination and strength of our people’s will to continue the struggle against oppression. As a result of those sacrifices and that resistance, disgrace became the fate of the criminals.”
Concluding his message, the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party said:
“On the 41st anniversary of the Zewa Tragedy, we honor the pure souls of the martyrs of Zewa and all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on the path to the freedom of Kurdistan.”