Families of Speicher massacre victims demand historic protection of site

SALADIN, Iraq — Families of the victims of the 2014 Speicher massacre in Sulaymaniyah have called on the federal government in Baghdad to grant the site formal historic and legal protection. The Speicher Massacre Condolence Committee said in a written statement that the area is "a living witness to genocide" and must be preserved as a heritage site through official channels. The families said they would exercise their legal rights as "blood avengers" under Iraqi law and tribal custom, and urged security and judicial authorities to pursue those who obstruct efforts to identify the perpetrators. They also demanded that the massacre's anniversary commemorations continue to be held at the Speicher Presidential Palaces complex. The statement comes in response to remarks attributed to tribal leaders in Tikrit that opposed holding memorial events at the presidential palaces. Footage previously aired by local media showed tribal leaders and city notables gathered at Tikrit's Grand Mosque calling for the palace complex lands to be returned to their former owners or converted into tourist and social areas for the city. ISIS claimed responsibility for the Speicher massacre after seizing the military base in Saladin province in June 2014, killing approximately 2,000 civilians and security personnel in mass shootings.