Victims of poisonous gas attacks on the Kurds in northern Iraq have demanded compensation from businessman Frans van Anraat.

The Dutch businessman is serving a 16-and-a-half-year sentence for supplying the raw materials to Saddam Hussein's regime to make mustard gas in the 1980s.

Sixteen victims are now claiming 25,000 euros per person from the businessman. They have all been made disabled by the attacks. Some of them are blind, others have lung damage and skin disorders. They have also lost members of their families.

The case has been brought “As a recognition of their suffering and damage.” If it is successful they will continue to sue for the effects of the attacks.

In the summer, the Supreme Court confirmed an earlier conviction of Van Anraat as an accomplice to war crimes.

Saddam Hussein used mustard gas against the Kurds in northern Iraq in the 1980s. He also used it in the war with Iran. The use of mustard gas was internationally banned in the 1925 Geneva Protocol.

A Dutch criminal court and the Supreme Court both refused to award compensation this year, because it would be too difficult to get money from Van Anraat. The victims are now taking civil action.

Photo: Halabja chemical weapon attack 1988 - Wikipedia Commons/Sayeed Janbozorgi