US Scientists Acknowledge Agony of Iranian 'Chemical Martyrs'

Prominent Iranian dermatologist Dr. Seyed Nasser Emadi expressed pleasure in the release of a report in the US Science journal on Iranians chemically wounded by Saddam's army during the Iraqi-imposed war (1980-1988), stressing that the US scientists have eventually come to acknowledge their pains and sufferings

News ID: ۳۸۵۲۸۲

جمعه - ۰۲ فروردين ۲۰۱۸ / 2018 02 January

"I thank God that after 30 years, the righteousness and innocence of the Iranians injured in chemical attacks was officially admitted for the first time in the credited international Science Journal as a result of the efforts made by Professor Richard Stone who oversees the Science's international coverage," Dr. Emadi told FNA on Sunday.

Noting that the American scientists used the two words of 'Chemical Martyrs' for their essay in the Science, he explained that professor Stone came to be informed of the realities of the aftermaths of Iraq's chemical attacks against Iran during his recent visit to the country.

Dr. Emadi further explained that Prof. Stone accompanied him while visiting the Iranian soldiers and civilians injured during the chemical attacks by the former Iraqi regime and watched footages showing the impacts of Saddam's chemical attacks on the Iranian civilians in Sardasht city, and said Stone was stunned after seeing the realities and promised to make the world aware of them by releasing a report in the Science Journal.

"While the world speaks of the victims of WMD weapons in Hiroshima, Nagazaki, Japan's metro and the World War I and II, your country is undoubtedly the biggest victim of chemical weapons," Prof. Stone was quoted as saying by Dr. Emadi.

Emadi, a member of the Doctors Without Border, said the Science Journal article is highly valuable as it is the first ever acknowledgement of this size of Iranian chemically wounded victims of the weapons used by the former Iraqi army, but supplied by the Western and Eastern powers.

Tens of thousands of Iranians were killed and wounded by chemical weapons during the 1980-1988 Iraqi imposed war on Iran. Around 100,000 Iranians are still living with the effects, which include long-term respiratory problems, eye and skin problems as well as immune system disorders, psychological disorders, genetic disorders, and probably cancers.

Sardasht is a city in Northwestern Iran. According to the 2006 census, its population was 37,000. It lies in the West Azarbaijan province. It was the first city in which civilians were attacked with chemical weapons by former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein during the imposed Iraqi war on Iran.

The population of Sardasht is Kurdish. Sardasht is also known for the many villages around it and their reliability on the city's market.

On June 28, 1987, Iraqi aircraft dropped what Iranian authorities believed to be mustard gas bombs on Sardasht, in two separate bombing runs on four residential areas.

Sardasht was the first town in the world to be gassed. Out of a population of 20,000, 25% are still suffering severe illnesses from the attacks.