Spring, 1991.

In the aftermath of the First Gulf War, as Saddam Hussein’s forces brutally crush the Kurdish uprising in northern Iraq, two million Kurds escape into the freezing mountains. The world watches on in horror as images of death and starvation reach television screens.

Meanwhile, in Whitehall, two diplomats – aided by a Kurdish refugee – fight to convince the British government that it is their moral duty to intervene before it is too late. 

Based on historic events, this sweeping new play reveals how moral conviction and diplomatic resolve sparked Operation Safe Haven – the unprecedented mission that prevented a genocide.

Written by Chris Bowers, former British diplomat in Iraqi Kurdistan, Safe Haven weaves narratives of political decision-making together with stories of Kurdish endurance in a compelling exploration of courage, conscience and humanitarian intervention.

Post-show events

Tuesday 20 January: Following the show, join us for a 35-minute discussion and Q&A with members of the Royal United Services Institute, alongside the High Representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government and one of the real-life key players in Operation Safe Haven.

Thursday 22 January: Following the show, there will be a 35-minute discussion and Q&A with academics from The Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme at King’s College London, as well as one of the real-life key players in Operation Safe Haven.