Saddam's Genocide of the Kurds

Today was a harrowing day in Kurdistan, as we went to visit the Genocide Memorial in Halabja. This was the City that Saddam Hussein bombarded with mustard gas on 16 March 1988, as part of his plans to exterminate the Kurds (which had started in 1976).

Over 5,000 Kurds - men, women and children - died because of the chemical attack - and thousands more were injured and maimed for life.

After, we went to a special Memorial Garden with one of the survivors, which commemorated the dead.

The dignity of the Memorial Centre and Garden contrasted greatly with the barbarism of the Iraqi Baathists who had committed the genocide.

We came across another example of that barbarism as we later visited a former Saddam torture Chamber. The blood was still on the floor cells, the torture equipment still on the tables, the writings of the prisoners still on the walls. We were shown cells where Kurds were beaten, electrocuted and hung. One part had been called the 'party area' by the Baathist Guards. This was because it was by a women's Cell - whose inmates were used as raping meat by their tormentors. Outside there was an incinerator in which the Guards threw babies or foetuses to be burnt. This is not a place, I ever would like to see again.

There will be those who have strong views about the Iraq war. One thing is for sure: his removal, stopped the torture and genocide of the Iraqi Kurds. For that, all of us should say a blessing.

P.S. You can read more about the Halabja genocide here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halabja_poison_gas_attack

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