Good morning, and welcome to the city of Duhok.
Your Excellency President Masoud Barzani, the highest national reference of Kurdistan, I extend to you the warmest of welcomes. I pray to Almighty God for your continued health, for the good of the Kurds and for Kurdistan.
The Honorable Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Masrour Barzani, you honor us with your presence.
Distinguished guests, beloved survivors of Anfal, esteemed professors, scholars in the fields of genocide and mass graves, honorable ministers and officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and respected party and governmental officials of Duhok Governorate, welcome.
Our esteemed guests from federal Iraq, welcome.
Your Excellencies Ambassadors and Consuls of nations in Kurdistan and Iraq, welcome to the scientific conference: “Scientific Documentation of Anfal Crimes and Mass Graves, Towards the International Recognition of the Genocide of the Kurdish People.”
Welcome to the University of Duhok, to share in this national sorrow and to participate in this scientific program.
We do not wish to reopen old wounds by recalling the pain, but we want everyone to know that it is our duty as a scientific institution to be a guiding light for this cause. With your valued assistance, we want to tell the world that a crime has been committed against our people that is unparalleled in history: 182,000 innocent people of all ages and genders were buried alive.
Distinguished attendees, perhaps not everyone is aware, but our work in forensic medicine in Kurdistan has scientifically proven that in just one mass grave in the Jafayeti Valley in Hatra, 45 children were still in their mothers’ wombs when they were subjected to Anfal.
Your Excellency President Barzani,
Thank you very much for your continuous support and guidance in all matters related to the discovery and exhumation of the mass graves of our people. You have always considered yourself the guardian and family of the victims.
I reaffirm that your support and guidance, under the supervision and direction of the Honorable Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Masrour Barzani, have been a key driver and supporter of our work. From here, we thank the efforts of the Prime Minister’s office and the Chief of Staff of the Council of Ministers.
Holding this conference is a result of the outstanding work of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Just as we see progress in all aspects of life and development in Kurdistan, from reconstruction to the flourishing of its cities, we will, with the help of God, the people of Kurdistan, and Your Excellency, facilitate every effort to present this issue scientifically. Our goal is to solidify the identity of our people, to be a cornerstone for building a brighter future, and for the establishment of the state of Kurdistan.
In this regard, I extend my sincere thanks to the honorable Minister of Health and Minister of Higher Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government, who have jointly and earnestly supported us in organizing this conference.
Distinguished guests, welcome to the city of Duhok, to a university that is a university in the truest sense of the word.
Beloved survivors of Anfal, welcome. Rest assured that we will not abandon this rightful cause of yours and our people until we reach an outcome that brings you solace.
Esteemed professors, experts, specialists, and organizations working on genocide, welcome. We have the utmost gratitude and appreciation for your work and dedication.
Thank you to our colleagues in federal Iraq, from the Ministry of Health, the Martyrs’ Foundation, and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) for all their cooperation.
Thank you to all the universities of Kurdistan, the scientific committee, the organizing committee, the media, and the administrative staff for their tireless efforts.
Once again, welcome, Your Excellency President Barzani. Your efforts are a source of strength and morale for us.
Prof. Dr. Yasin Kareem Amin
President of the 5th Conference on the Genocide of the Kurdish People
