Halabja / Chemical weapons

Type of liability
Personne morale

Alleged perpetrator(s)
Protec SA De Dietrich Carbone Lorraine (Mersen)

Nationality of alleged perpetrator(s)
French

Legal classification of crime(s)
Complicity in premeditated murders
Complicity in attempted premeditated murders
Concealment of proceeds of crimes"

Source of the complaint
Victim

Ongoing proceedings
oui

Regime
4 - 113 CP

Summary of facts

On March 16, 1988, the town of Halabja in Iraq was the target of chemical weapons attacks, causing the deaths of nearly 5,000 people.

According in particular to United Nations investigation reports, natural and legal persons located in France allegedly participated, in the 1980s, in the design, construction and supply of technological equipment, raw materials and chemical precursors for the chemical weapons production complexes, plants and factories in Iraq.

Amnesty International France recalls that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.

Legal proceedings

<p>June 10, 2013: 20 Iraqi Kurds filed a complaint for “crimes against humanity” against X with the Paris High Court.<br />
August 26, 2013: a judicial investigation was opened by the specialized unit.<br />
June 10, 2014: FIDH and LDH joined as civil parties.</p>

Complaint

non

Names of NGOs / Victim(s)

"FIDH
LDH

Legal basis for jurisdiction (article)

113-6 PC

Court of Assizes judgment

n/a

Court of Appeal ruling

n/a

Court of Cassation ruling

n/a

Sources

Le Nouvel Obs, « Massacre à l'arme chimique en Irak : la France impliquée », 2013

FIDH, « Affaire Halabja : la FIDH et la LDH se constituent parties civiles aux côtés des victimes », 2014

France Diplomatie, « Irak - Anniversaire de l’attaque chimique à Halabja », 16 mars 2021