16 March 2000

Text: U.S. Statement on Twelfth Anniversary of the Halabja Massacre

As the U.S. Government extended greetings to Muslims around the world on the beginning of Eid al-Adha on March 16, it also recalled that this day marks the twelfth anniverary of Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons attack on Halabja, a Kurdish city in northeastern Iraq.

"On March 16, 1998, an estimated 5,000 civilians were killed and 10,000 injured when Iraqi air forces bombarded Halabja with mustard and other poison gases," State Department Spokesman James P. Rubin said. "Twelve years after the massacre, the people of Halabja still suffer from very high rates of serious diseases such as cancer and birth defects."

"The attack on Halabja, which was a crime against humanity, is emblematic of a long history of criminal conduct by Saddam Hussein's regime," Rubin said. "We are working towards the day when those ultimately responsible for the decision to order the poison gas bombardment of Halabja can be brought to justice before an international tribunal, in a free and democratic Iraq, or wherever they may be found. There is no statute of limitations for Iraqi crimes against humanity such as Halabja, and these crimes will not be forgotten," he said.

Following is the text of Rubin's statement:

U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
March 16, 2000
Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
Anniversary of the Halabja Massacre

Today we extend greetings to Muslims around the world on the beginning of Eid al-Adha. As we note this joyous occasion, we also recall that this day marks the twelfth anniverary of Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons attack on Halabja, a Kurdish city in northeastern Iraq. We understand that many Muslims in the Kurdish region have taken the extraordinary step of suspending the observance of the feast in order to commemorate the Halabja attack with fitting solemnity.

On March 16, 1998, an estimated 5,000 civilians were killed and 10,000 injured when Iraqi air forces bombarded Halabja with mustard and other poison gases. Twelve years after the massacre, the people of Halabja still suffer from very high rates of serious diseases such as cancer and birth defects.

The victims of Halabja deserve justice and the support of the international community. The attack on Halabja, which was a crime against humanity, is emblematic of a long history of criminal conduct by Saddam Hussein's regime. The United States has long called for an international tribunal to investigate, indict and, if possible, prosecute Saddam Hussein and his top lieutenants for their crimes, which continue to this day in the south and central parts of the country. We support international efforts to document Iraqi crimes against humanity and to establish a lasting record of Saddam Hussein's criminal culpability. The investigation and prosecution of Saddam Hussein for violations of international humanitarian law is long overdue.

The United States has a history of providing support for the prosecution of those responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity. We are doing the same to support the eventual prosecution of those responsible for Halabja. We are working towards the day when those ultimately responsible for the decision to order the poison gas bombardment of Halabja can be brought to justice before an international tribunal, in a free and democratic Iraq, or wherever they may be found. There is no statute of limitations for Iraqi crimes against humanity such as Halabja, and these crimes will not be forgotten.

Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons attack on Halabja was not an isolated incident. It was part of a systematic campaign ordered by Saddam Hussein and led by his lieutenant, Ali Hassan al-Majid, the infamous "Chemical Ali," against Iraqi Kurdish civilians. International observers estimate Iraqi forces killed 50,000 to 100,000 people during the 1988 campaign known as "Anfal." The Iraqi regime also killed at least 5,000 Iranians with chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq War. The use of chemical weapons was outlawed in 1925 by a treaty to which Iraq is a party.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)