Halabja Chemical Attack Included in Swedish Primary School Curriculum

World 12:09 PM - 2026-08-28

Salar Mahmoud visits Dr Faraidun Moradi in Sweden.

Salar Mahmoud, Head of the Foreign Relations Central Board of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), expressed pride at visiting Dr Faraidun Moradi in Sweden, describing his work as a significant achievement for Kurdistan and humanity that deserves greater recognition.

“In Sweden, with great pride and joy, we visited Dr Faraidun Moradi, who has achieved a significant milestone for Kurdistan and humanity that deserves greater recognition,” Mahmoud said.

He explained that, as part of efforts to raise awareness and document the genocide in Kurdistan and the 1988 chemical attack on Halabja, a unique educational and scientific initiative has led to the tragedy being incorporated into Sweden’s national curriculum.

“This crime against humanity is now taught in Swedish schools as part of the syllabus,” Mahmoud said.

Following the initiative, Mahmoud visited Dr Faraidun Moradi in Gothenburg, where he learned more about his efforts to have the Halabja chemical attack included in Sweden’s primary school curriculum.

A new educational text prepared for pupils in Years 4 to 6 focuses on the chemical attack on Halabja. Designed to be age-appropriate, the material introduces pupils to the importance of science, particularly chemistry, while raising awareness of the dangers posed by chemical weapons.

The inclusion of the Halabja genocide in Swedish primary school teaching materials marks a significant step towards preserving the memory of the victims and fostering awareness of ethical responsibility and human rights.

Education, Ethics and the Dangers of Chemical Weapons

Dr Faraidun Moradi is a researcher and chemical weapons expert at the Disaster Medicine Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

The educational material was developed in collaboration with Swedish educational specialists to present complex chemical concepts to pupils in Years 4 to 6 in a clear and accessible way.

At its core is the principle of dual-use science: while chemicals and chemical knowledge play an essential role in everyday life, including medicine, water purification and industry, the same knowledge can be misused to cause serious harm.

The text therefore combines scientific education with an emphasis on ethics and responsibility.

A key section addresses the 1988 chemical attack on Halabja during the Iran–Iraq War, one of the clearest examples of chemical weapons being used against civilians. The attack killed approximately 5,000 people and left thousands more suffering long-term health consequences.

The material presents the subject honestly while avoiding unnecessarily distressing content. Pupils learn that chemical weapons are toxic substances deliberately used to cause harm, and that their effects can be immediate or long-lasting, including damage to the nervous system and DNA.

It also explains the dual-use nature of certain chemical substances, highlighting how scientific knowledge can have both beneficial and harmful applications.

Preserving the Memory of Halabja

The educational text also introduces pupils to international efforts to prohibit chemical weapons, including the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), while highlighting the fact that the threat posed by such weapons remains relevant today.


The inclusion of Halabja in Sweden’s primary school curriculum therefore goes beyond teaching a historical event. It presents the tragedy as a lesson in science, ethics, responsibility and human rights, helping ensure that the memory of its victims is preserved for future generations.

Dr Moradi stressed that science itself is not the problem, but rather how it is used.

As a researcher who works directly with survivors, he noted that the physical and psychological consequences of chemical attacks can persist for decades, underlining the importance of education in preserving historical memory and helping prevent future atrocities.


PUKMEDIA