Iran’s Foreign Ministry marks the 37th anniversary of the Halabja chemical attack by urging the West to acknowledge its role in the atrocity. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei highlighted the ongoing suffering caused by this attack and criticized European nations for their involvement in Iraq’s chemical weapons program.
In honor of the 37th anniversary of the Halabja chemical attack, Iran’s Foreign Ministry is calling upon the international community to recognize the event and its enduring consequences. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei indicated that the time elapsed does not diminish the severity of the chemical bombing executed by Saddam Hussein’s regime on March 16, 1988.
Baqaei articulated that the United States and certain European nations played a complicit role by providing technical and technological assistance that facilitated the attack. He also pointed out the shared agony of Iranians, particularly the victims from Sardasht, who endured similar atrocities during the eight-year war with Iraq.
Furthermore, he denounced European countries for their historical contribution to Iraq’s chemical weapons capabilities. He asserted, “Europe’s unwillingness to acknowledge the truth and take responsibility undermines their credibility in matters of human rights and the rule of law.”
The assault on Halabja marked the culmination of the Iran-Iraq War, wherein the Iraqi air force unleashed a lethal combination of chemical agents on the town, which had aligned with Iran. The attack, masterminded by Ali Hassan al-Majid, claimed approximately 5,000 civilian lives instantly, with countless others enduring chronic health issues due to chemical exposure.
In summary, Iran is urging global acknowledgment of the West’s involvement in the Halabja attack as it commemorates its 37th anniversary. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stresses the moral imperative for accountability, particularly from European nations, concerning their past support of Iraq’s chemical weapons program. The atrocities witnessed in Halabja remain a stark reminder of the devastating impacts of chemical warfare on civilian populations.
Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com
