Public lecture to explore genocide and reconciliation

Genocide and reconciliation are subjects to be explored at an event on Thursday 2 March.

The School of History, Politics and International Relations is continuing its successful public lecture series on Kurds and the Middle East and is inviting people to an event entitled: ‘Commemorating Anfal: Genocide and Reconciliation’.

The School will be hosting the KRG Minister of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs, Mahmood Salih Hama Karim, and Mr Nadhim Zahawi (MP) in the Public Lecture discussing prevention policies and lessons to be learnt on the occasion of the ‘Anfal’ (The Spoils, 1986-1989) Campaign against the Kurds during the final stages of the Iran- Iraq War.

Dr Svenja Bethke, Lecturer in Modern European History at the University’s Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies will talk about genocide recognition.

Coordinator Dr Marianna Charountaki, Lecturer in Kurdish Politics and International Relations, said: “The Anfal (the spoils) campaign against the Kurds in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which occurred in three-phases, that is between 1986 and 1989, and reached its peak with the Halabja poisonous gas attack (16 March 1988) constitute dramatic lessons in history which unfortunately are repeated today following the rise of the Islamic State and the Kurdistan Region’s deepening into a state of humanitarian emergency.”

Commemorating Anfal: Genocide and Reconciliation takes place between 17:00PM – 19:00PM in the Rattray Lecture Theatre