Debate on the 25th anniversary of the Kurdish genocide
28 February 2013
On Thursday 28 February 2013 the House of Commons debated a motion relating to the 25th anniversary of the Kurdish genocide. The Backbench Business Committee scheduled the debate following a representation by Nadhim Zahawi.
The House agreed to the motion:
"That this House formally recognises the genocide against the people of Iraqi Kurdistan; encourages governments, the EU and UN to do likewise; believes that this will enable Kurdish people, many in the UK, to achieve justice for their considerable loss; and further believes that it would enable the UK, the home of democracy and freedom, to send out a message of support for international conventions and human rights, which is made even more pressing by the slaughter in Syria and the possible use of chemical arsenals."
Watch the debate and read a transcript
Watch the debate on Parliament TV and read the views expressed by MPs in Commons Hansard.
- Parliament TV: Debate on a motion relating to the 25th anniversary of the Kurdish genocide
- Commons Hansard: Debate on a motion relating to the 25th anniversary of the Kurdish genocide
How the subject was selected
The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following representations at its meeting on 29 January 2013 by Nadhim Zahawi, Robert Halfon, Meg Munn, Fabian Hamilton and Jason McCartney for a debate on 25th anniversary of the Kurdish genocide and its contemporary relevance.
- Parliament TV: Backbench Business Committee 29 January 2013
- Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence heard on 29 January 2013
This topic was also the subject of an e-petition Recognition of Genocide against the Kurds in Iraq (external link).
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 3pm to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject.
The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on Parliament TV.