پەرلەمانی کوردستان
April 16, 2026
Today marks the 39th anniversary of the chemical assault on Balisan, Sheikh Wasanan, and Khoshnawti Valley. This heinous act, perpetrated by the former Iraqi regime in 1987, initiated a tragic series of brutal chemical attacks against civilians, lands, and the natural environment of Kurdistan.
On this solemn day, we remember the martyrs, and our thoughts are with their loved ones and with everyone who has been affected by this terrible atrocity.
Balisan, Sheikh Wasanan, and the whole Khoshnawti Valley have long stood as bastions of patriotism and steadfast devotion to the revolution and the Peshmerga. It was precisely for this reason that they became targets of these brutal attacks—yet the people of Kurdistan held their ground, while the perpetrators fell.
May peace be upon the souls of the martyrs of Khoshnawti and all the fallen heroes of Kurdistan.
Nechirvan Barzani
President of the Kurdistan Region
