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Kurdistan remembers 2004 twin terrorist attacks

SAT, 4 FEB 2012 12:50 | KRG Cabinet

Erbil, Kurdistan – Iraq (KRG.org) – The Ministry of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs on Wednesday held a memorial for the victims of the twin terrorist attacks that took place on 1 February 2004 in Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region.

The commemoration of the lives of the victims, who were killed eight years ago, included a dedication by the Minister of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs, Mr Sabah Ahmed, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument for the victims in Sami-Abdul Rahman Park in Erbil. Prime Minister Barham Salih and Speaker of the Parliament Dr Kamal Kirkuki were among those who came to remember the tragedy.

Minister Ahmed spoke briefly about the events that took place on that day and said, “It is through these somber events that we remind future generations of what we have endured to arrive where we are today. It is important to remember that the people of Kurdistan sacrificed their lives so that we could all progress, and to remember that we must unite in order to achieve the goals of our nation.”

The 2004 bombings were the only major terrorist attack to have taken place in the Kurdistan Region since the overthrow of the former Iraqi regime in 2003. It was the first day of Eid Al-Mubarak, the holiday Muslim feast day, and terrorists targeted the 2nd branch office of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the 3rd branch office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in Erbil (the two leading Regional political parties at the time of the attacks). Political leaders and government officials were receiving guests at these locations in celebration of the Eid holiday, when the two separate bombings claimed the lives of 101 people, from children to political leaders, and injured scores of others.

Representatives of all three executive branches of government as well as those of the Kurdish political parties, members of Kurdistan’s Parliament and representatives from foreign consulates stationed in the Kurdistan Region joined the families of the martyrs in laying flowers and wreathes at the monument in Sami-Abdul Rahman Park. The park was formerly the location of Iraq’s largest military base in Kurdistan, and is named after KRG Deputy Prime Minister Sami Abdul Rahman who, along with his son, was one of the victims of the attack.

The remembrance was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Azad Berwari, Chief of Staff for the Kurdistan Region President Dr Fuad Hussein, the Governor of Erbil Nawzad Hadi, ministers, families of the victims and other foreign and local dignitaries and officials.

See also the photo gallery of the ceremony.

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