IRAQ: Kurdistan Region Parliament observes moment of silence for Sorya Massacre martyrs

ERBIL, Iraq — The Kurdistan Region Parliament opened its special session by observing a minute of silence in commemoration of the 51st anniversary of the Sorya Massacre.

On 16 September 1969, Baathist’s descended on the village, gathered the Syriac Chaldean civilians of the village into a barn, and murdered them with automatic rifle fire. No one, not even children, were spared.

Head of the Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party Romeo Hakkari called on the Parliament to recall this painful massacre, noting the memorandum signed by a number of parliamentarians from various blocs calling for the commemoration of the anniversary.

Following the moment of silence, the session dedicated to discussing the issue of prisoners and correction centers in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) began in the presence of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.

The Ministry of Social Affairs report on human rights was read by the Chairman of the Committee, which included the problems of prisoners, their demands, and numerous proposals for improving their situation and the rehabilitation of correction centers.