Biologists Jan Van Aken and Josef Savari, members of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, visited the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to conduct an investigation into the use of chemical weapons in the region since the Halabja massacre.

The delegation visited the Kurdistan Region Parliament Office in Sulaymaniyah and held talks with the head of the office.

It is reported that the use of prohibited weapons in the Kurdistan Region was addressed at the meeting.

“We welcome the European delegation visiting the Kurdistan Region to investigate the chemical weapons used since the Halabja attack,” Kurdistan Region Parliament’s Peshmerga and Public Security Committee member Osman Sêderi said during a press conference after the meeting.

“Last week we visited the Anfal monument in Chamchamal and Halabja. We also tried to reach the villages of Hirur and Kani Masi after a visit to the town of Amiya,” said biologist Jan Aken, who has been researching chemical weapons for 25 years.

“According to some reports we obtained, chemical weapons are being used in this region. We also wanted to investigate and prepare a report on this issue. We wanted to talk to Haci Abdullah, who was a victim of chemical weapons, but the Amadiya district governor did not allow us and prevented us from conducting research,” the biologist added.

The European delegation called on the Kurdistan Regional Government to ask the United Nations to investigate the use of chemical weapons and to submit a report to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

The delegation also asked the Kurdistan Regional Government to allow them to investigate the use of chemical weapons so that a massacre similar to Halabja would not take place in future.