On July 22, 1988 (31 Tir 1367), Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath regime launched a devastating strike on the village of Zardeh in Kermanshah. Consequently, the Zardeh chemical attack killed hundreds of civilian Yarsani Kurds who had gathered for a religious ceremony. Check out our [Internal Link: Latest updates on human rights in Kurdistan] to learn more about historic state violations in the region.
Saddam’s forces dropped chemical bombs directly onto the crowd near the Baba Yadgar shrine. Specifically, at least 275 civilians died immediately, and over a thousand suffered severe chemical poisoning. In addition, survivors faced chronic respiratory, skin, and eye illnesses for decades.
However, these victims were completely non-combatants. They played no role in the decisions of the eight-year Iran-Iraq War. Instead, these Yarsani Kurds were caught between two oppressive dictatorships.
Systemic Neglect Following the Zardeh Chemical Attack
The suffering of the survivors did not end with the 1988 ceasefire. Indeed, wounded residents faced massive bureaucratic obstacles when seeking state medical support. Furthermore, Iranian authorities consistently ignored their demands for specialized healthcare and financial aid.
Although the Islamic Republic frequently exploited the Zardeh chemical attack for official state propaganda, it abandoned the actual victims. Moreover, state media deliberately erased the distinct Kurdish and Yarsani identity of the deceased. You can read more about religious communities on our Yarsan Community archive.
A Shared Legacy of Chemical Warfare
Zardeh was not an isolated tragedy during the conflict. In fact, chemical strikes also devastated Halabja, Sardasht, Nodsheh, and Marivan. Therefore, Kurds on both sides of the border paid the ultimate price for two competing totalitarian governments.
Thirty-eight years later, the wounds of the Zardeh chemical attack remain unhealed. Ultimately, the survivors remain double victims—first of Saddam’s weapons, and then of Tehran’s deliberate neglect. To explore related historical reports, visit our news.
