28 Years After the Attacks on Halabja: ISIS Uses Chemical Weapons Against Civilians in Iraq

Photo by Yahya Ahmed

Graves of victims of the Halabja gas attack ordered by Saddam Hussein on 16 March 1988; Photo by Yahya Ahmed

Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights Press Release:

There is growing evidence that the terrorist militia “Islamic State” (ISIS) has used mustard and chlorine gas against Kurdish fighters and civilians in Iraq. The Jiyan Foundation condemns the use of chemical weapons and stands in solidarity with the victims.

ISIS terrorists recently attacked civilians with mustard gas in Taza, an Iraqi town in Kirkuk Province, claiming the life of a three-year-old girl and injuring dozens of others. Former military commanders of the Ba’ath party, who were accused of using chemical weapons under the Saddam regime, have become ISIS militants and now apply their knowledge in favor of the terrorists’ cause. As the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reports, ISIS has been using homemade chemical rockets against Peshmerga troops at the Kurdish frontline for months. Other sources indicate the use of gas-filled rockets against returnees in the city of Sinjar. Affected persons displayed common symptoms of exposure to chemical gas, such as vomiting, nausea, burns, irritated skin, and blisters.

“We are deeply concerned about these attacks and call for a thorough international investigation along with long-term support for the survivors”, says Azad Mustafa Qader, medical doctor and manager of the Jiyan Foundation in Halabja. “Chemical weapons are extremely dangerous. There is no effective treatment. The long-term consequences affect survivors until the end of their lives.”

The Jiyan Foundation has extensive experience in supporting survivors of chemical attacks. Since 2010, the organization has been operating a branch in Halabja where victims of the 1988 chemical bombings find medical and psychological help. After Syrian government forces had used internationally banned chemical agents against civilians in Damascus in 2013, the population of Halabja took to the streets and marched in solidary with the victims.

Jîyan is the Kurdish word for “life.” The Jiyan Foundation supports survivors of human rights violations, promotes democratic values and defends fundamental freedoms in Kurdistan-Iraq. The Jiyan Foundation is supported by the German goverment, MISEREOR, the European Union, the United Nations, and private donors.

www.jiyan-foundation.org

 

 

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