BARZANI'S ANFAL MONUMENT
Project
BARZANI'S ANFAL MONUMENT
Memorializing the Barzan Tragedy: A Professional Overview
- Start-End Time: 2020- 2021
- Area: (1,034,314 Square Meters)
- Location: Erbil – Barzan
- Constructed by: Golden Eagle Global for construction.
Mission
Upon the directive of His Excellency President Masoud Barzani, and under the meticulous oversight of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the Barzani Genocide Monument project commenced in July 2020. This solemn undertaking aimed to honor the memory of the 8,000 Barzani men and youths massacred during the Ba’ath regime’s atrocities. GEG Construction was entrusted with the profound responsibility of crafting the monument and its surroundings, a task executed with utmost reverence.
Design
The monument, fashioned in the likeness of a tulip bud, symbolizes the resilience of the Kurdish people in the face of adversity. Its eight petals poignantly represent the 8,000 fallen Barzani, with two petals adorned with significant motifs—the Kurdistan flag and the iconic red scarf of the Barzani tribe (Jamdani). Notably, the remaining petals bear 182,000 meticulously wrought hammer dents, honoring the broader Kurdish populace victimized during the Anfal campaign.
Facility
In a testament to environmental stewardship, the felling of 46 trees during construction was offset by the planting of 8,000 new oak trees, fulfilling the vision of His Excellency Mr. Mustafa Barzani. The monument complex, spanning 1,034,314 square meters, incorporates tranquil green spaces, an Anfal museum, ample parking facilities, and provisions for prayer and ablution.
Technical Data
Monument area: 1,034,314 m²
Cemetery area: 43,970 m²
Anfal museum area: 2,480 m² (externally constructed)
Parking area: 12,043 m²
Green space and fountain area: 5,500 m²
Prayer and ablution space: 575 m²
Capacity
With a seating capacity of 1,760, the monument provides a serene setting for contemplation and remembrance.
Project Team
The realization of this poignant memorial was made possible by the dedication of over 120 local engineers and workers from GEG Construction, many of whom bore personal connections to Anfal victims, infusing their work with profound meaning.
Opening Ceremony
On July 31, 2022, a momentous occasion unfolded as President Masoud Barzani presided over the solemn inauguration of the monument, a poignant tribute coinciding with the anniversary of the Barzan genocide.
The Background
In the somber annals of history, July 31, 1983, stands as a dark chapter marked by the ruthless “Anfal” military campaigns orchestrated by the Iraqi Ba’ath regime. In these harrowing events, over 8,000 Barzani men and youths were mercilessly abducted, their whereabouts shrouded in mystery until the capture of Saddam Hussein by the US army in 2003. Subsequently, in 2004, His Excellency President Masoud Barzani initiated the arduous quest to locate the missing, resulting in the discovery of 513 victims in Al Muthanna Governorate. This quest continued, unearthing the remains of 93 more in 2011 and another 100 in 2021, finally bringing closure to grieving families as their loved ones were repatriated to Kurdistan.
