ERBIL — On Saturday, April 4, 2026, several Kurdish leaders emphasized the necessity of achieving justice for Faili Kurds and compensating them for the damages they sustained. These remarks came in synchronized statements marking the 46th anniversary of the genocide perpetrated against them.
President Masoud Barzani: “An Integral Part of Our Fabric”
In a formal statement, President Masoud Barzani asserted that Faili Kurds will “forever remain a cherished and authentic part of the fabric of the people of Kurdistan.” He stressed that it is the duty of the Iraqi state to provide justice and compensate them for all the pain and suffering endured due to the repressive policies of the former regime.
Describing the date as a “sad day” on the Kurdistan calendar, he recalled the “tragedies and woes faced by our Faili brothers and sisters, including oppression, massacres, and injustice due to their Kurdish identity and affiliation.”
President Barzani noted that:
“The martyrdom of thousands of youths, the confiscation of identities and legal documents, and the deportation of tens of thousands of Faili Kurdish families were merely parts of the heinous crimes committed by the former regime against the people of Kurdistan.”
He concluded by offering “thousands of salutes to the pure souls of the Faili martyrs and all martyrs of Kurdistan,” reaffirming the commitment to defending the rights of this component and the necessity of achieving justice and reparations.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani: Legal and Constitutional Obligations
The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, called on the federal government in Baghdad to fulfill its legal and constitutional obligations. He urged for the fair and appropriate compensation of the families of Faili martyrs and those affected, alongside all victims of the previous regime.
He explained that the genocide campaigns against Faili Kurds included “killings, displacement, and enforced disappearances, in addition to the confiscation of money and property of hundreds of thousands at the hands of previous regimes, particularly the Ba’ath regime.”
Prime Minister Barzani emphasized:
The federal government must bear its legal responsibility in compensating the victims.
Reparations must extend to victims of chemical attacks, the Anfal campaign, and all those harmed by the former Iraqi state.
He expressed his deepest condolences, bowing in “reverence and pride for the souls of Faili martyrs.”
President Nechirvan Barzani: Restoring Citizenship and Property
The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, stressed the federal government’s duty to compensate victims both materially and morally. He specifically called for the restoration of citizenship and confiscated property in accordance with the rulings of the Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal.
He described the campaigns of displacement and disappearance as a “racist crime of genocide.” In his statement, he noted:
“Today, we commemorate the painful 46th anniversary of the series of crimes of genocide, displacement, and disappearance against our Faili brothers and sisters. They were subjected to execution, murder, arrest, and the stripping of their nationality.”
He added that the displacement of hundreds of thousands across borders was a systematic process of ethnic cleansing. He vowed that the “struggle, loyalty, and sacrifices of Faili Kurds will always be a source of pride,” calling for this history to serve as a “lesson” for building a future based on coexistence.
Deputy PM Qubad Talabani: An Unbreakable Will
Similarly, Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the KRG, affirmed that the crimes of genocide and forced displacement failed to break the will of the Kurdish people. Instead, they strengthened the unity of their destiny.
He stated that “the Kurdish people are greater and more authentic than any attempt by enemies to erase them through genocide or identity suppression.” He noted that these crimes only served to deepen the bond and faith in a shared future, concluding by bowing in honor of the souls of the martyrs and victims.
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