Honoring Anfal victims

Kalar artist builds replica of notorious Nogra Salman prison camp

2024-09-02 | 16:17

KALAR – In a poignant tribute to the victims of the Anfal genocide campaign, a local artist in Kalar, Sulaymaniyah, has constructed a detailed replica of the infamous Nogra Salman prison camp in his courtyard. The structure, which measures 18 meters in length and 3.5 meters in height, is made of wood and iron and took 17 days to complete.

Nogra Salman prison camp, located in Samawah in Iraq’s Muthanna governorate, is notorious for its role during the Ba’ath Party’s brutal campaign against the Kurds. Many Kurds were forcibly deported to Nogra Salman, where they suffered horrific persecution, torture, and mass killings.

Pshko Mohammed, the artist behind the project, explained his motivation to 964media: “I have visited Nogra Salman three times. The place has such a powerful impact that I felt compelled to recreate it. As an artist, the idea came to me to build this model of Nogra Salman.”

Mohammed designed eight windows in the replica as a symbolic tribute to the eight stages of the Anfal genocide campaign. “Each window tells the story and suffering of a family affected by the Anfal,” he said.

The Anfal campaign, conducted between February 22 and September 6, 1988, was a systematic genocide orchestrated by Iraq’s Ba’ath regime, targeting the Kurdish population. The campaign unfolded in eight distinct phases, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 Kurds, according to a 1993 Human Rights Watch report. However, Kurdish sources estimate the death toll could be as high as 182,000.

Having personally visited Nogra Salman, Mohammed expressed a deep desire to convey the pain of the victims through his art. He hopes to use the model in festivals and events to raise awareness about the Anfal campaign.

The most brutal phase of the Anfal campaign took place in the Garmian area, beginning on April 7, 1987, coinciding with the anniversary of the Ba’ath Party’s founding. This phase continued until April 20, with a significant escalation on April 14, when Ba’ath regime forces launched a large-scale military and paramilitary operation against the Kurdish population.

“We have been invited to the Kirkuk Theater Festival, which will take place in Kirkuk on September 4. We will participate with the play ‘Stories of Death from Nogra Salman,’” Mohammed shared. “We plan to bring the replica to Kirkuk to share the story of Anfal with foreign guests.”

The play will feature more than 11 actors, including eight relatives of those affected by the Anfal campaign. “This project is not about tears or emotional displays; it’s about rebuilding lives. Through it, the families of the Anfal victims can tell their stories,” Mohammed added.