‘Duty to compensate’: echoes of tragedy spur Halabja on after accession to provincial status

In a tale of great sorrow and resilience, the people of Halabja have celebrated its recent accession to provincial status almost 40 years after the former Baath regime unleashed a brutal chemical attack on its residents. Despite the enduring scars of the past, families of the victims hope that the firm Kurdish political solidarity in pushing for the provincial accession bill will lead to the realization of long-awaited compensation from the Baghdad government.