Yazidi UPDATES genocide has occurred and is ongoing

[Anthea]

Sinjar to Follow Halabja in
Push for Governorate Status

Iraqi lawmaker Mahma Khalil said on Sunday that following the official recognition of Halabja as a province, efforts will now shift to promoting Sinjar’s elevation to governorate status in the Iraqi parliament

“After the governorship of Halabja, every effort will be made to start the procedures for the governorship of Sinjar in the Iraqi parliament,” the lawmaker told BasNews.

Khalil, who previously served as governor of Sinjar, confirmed that a formal project to designate Sinjar as a province is underway and has gained traction within the legislature. He said Sinjar is ready for this administrative upgrade and emphasized the need for political and legal support from Baghdad.

The people of Sinjar have repeatedly demanded provincial status and have expressed a desire to be part of the Kurdistan Region. In the 2017 Kurdistan independence referendum, more than 90% of voters in Sinjar supported secession from Iraq

The remarks come just days after the Iraqi parliament officially approved Halabja as a province, marking a historic milestone for the Kurdish region. The decision passed during a special session of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, with strong backing from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and other Kurdish factions.

“After much anticipation and direct efforts by our leader President Barzani, along with persistent requests from our party and support from other Kurdish factions, we are delighted that the draft law for recognizing Halabja as a governorate has been approved,” said Meriwan Qarani, Deputy Head of the KDP faction

Halabja’s new status is widely seen as a recognition of its historical suffering, particularly the 1988 chemical attack by Saddam Hussein’s regime that claimed thousands of lives and became a global symbol of Kurdish resilience.

Sinjar, too, has endured tragedy—most notably the 2014 ISIS genocide against the Yezidis—and many believe provincial status would provide greater administrative autonomy and resources for recovery and development.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/882644

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Lalish Center on 32nd anniversary

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday extended heartfelt congratulations to the Yazidi community on the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of the Lalish Cultural and Social Center, lauding the institution’s enduring contributions to Kurdish cultural preservation, Yazidi heritage, and social harmony in the Kurdistan Region

In a message addressed to the Lalish Center's leadership and members, PM Barzani praised the center as a vital guardian of authentic Kurdish culture and a vibrant symbol of the Yazidi people's resilience and traditions.

"I congratulate the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of the Lalish Cultural and Social Center to the chairman and members of the high committee and all Yazidi brothers and sisters, and I wish you progress and continuity," the Prime Minister wrote in his message.

"The Lalish Center has provided a notable service to authentic Kurdish culture and art and the traditions of the Yazidi community, and has played an important role in strengthening brotherhood and coexistence among the components of Kurdistan," he added

Established in 1993 at the heart of Yazidism’s spiritual homeland near the sacred Lalish temple in Shekhan, the Lalish Center has become one of the most prominent institutions safeguarding Yazidi religious practices, rituals, and cultural life.

It also serves as a key hub for academic, artistic, and social engagement, attracting visitors, researchers, and spiritual pilgrims from across the region and the diaspora.

PM Barzani’s message is the latest in a series of official affirmations of support for the Yazidi community, which has endured profound hardship in recent decades, including displacement and genocide at the hands of ISIS in 2014.

In the years since, the Kurdistan Regional Government has made Yazidi recovery and cultural preservation a cornerstone of its post-conflict rebuilding efforts.

The Prime Minister’s recognition of the Lalish Center underscores its dual role as both a sanctuary for Yazidi identity and a pillar of broader Kurdish multiculturalism.

The center's activities—ranging from cultural festivals and educational seminars to interfaith dialogue and the documentation of Yazidi oral history—have consistently promoted unity among Kurdistan’s diverse ethnic and religious communities

In closing his message, PM Barzani reiterated his hope for the continued success of the Lalish Center, affirming its position not just as a Yazidi institution but as an essential component of Kurdistan’s collective cultural fabric: "Congratulations on the establishment of the Lalish Center and may you always be successful."

As celebrations mark the 32nd anniversary of the center’s founding, the Lalish Center stands not only as a monument to Yazidi resilience, but also as a living embodiment of Kurdistan’s enduring commitment to coexistence, memory, and cultural dignity.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/83 ... munal-role

[Anthea]

Iraq pushes to locate Yazidi women

taken to Syria by ISIS

Shafaq News/ Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Tuesday that most Yazidi women abducted by ISIS in 2014 were taken to Syria, as Baghdad and Erbil step up efforts to locate and free those still missing

Speaking after a regional expert meeting on missing persons in Baghdad, Hussein noted that both federal and Kurdish authorities are sharing intelligence, particularly in light of recent developments in Syria that could aid the search.

The meeting, attended by officials from the Kurdistan Region, focused on the legal and humanitarian challenges surrounding Iraq’s missing persons file, one of the most pressing legacies of ISIS’s campaign of violence.

Zidan Khalaf, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s advisor on human rights, said the government considers the issue a top priority. “We are addressing one of the most painful humanitarian crises in Iraq,” he said.

Khalaf highlighted ongoing work with national security, intelligence services, and the Yazidi Survivors Directorate to locate survivors and reunite them with their families. He added that financial rewards have been offered for credible information and that efforts continue to enforce the Yazidi Survivors Law to support victims and their families.

https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iraq-pushes- ... ia-by-ISIS

[Anthea]

I Lived Through Hell

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — A Yazidi girl recently rescued from ISIS captivity has shared her harrowing testimony with Kurdistan24, shedding light on the years of torment, sexual violence, and separation she endured over more than a decade of abduction

Dima Amin, originally from the village of Kocho in Sinjar, was abducted by ISIS in 2014 along with eight members of her family. Her emotional statement comes amid continued efforts to rescue the remaining Yazidis still held or missing in the aftermath of ISIS’s genocidal campaign.

“I am truly delighted and relieved to have been rescued,” Dima told Kurdistan24. “I want to thank my uncle, Abdullah, and everyone who helped make this possible. I hope the rest of my family can also be rescued.”

Describing her years in captivity, Dima said:

“There were countless moments of torture and anguish. Honestly, I lived through hell—it was unbearable. I was sexually assaulted. We had no life; it was horrifying. I wouldn’t wish such a life on anyone. It was a heavy burden, especially not being able to see my family or loved ones. They tormented us constantly. I was completely separated from my family and repeatedly violated. I even thought about ending my life many times.”

When asked about her abduction and the years that followed, Dima recounted being forcibly taken to Syria after ISIS captured Sinjar:

“When Daesh (ISIS) entered Iraq and took control of our areas, they moved us to Syria. They didn’t remain in Iraq for long—maybe a month. After that, I was separated from my family. An ISIS member took me by force to Syria and kept me in his house. He and others abused me—physically, emotionally, and sexually. They beat and insulted me constantly.”

Dima said she remained in Syria for three years before crossing into Turkey illegally, where she lived for seven more years. Yet, even in Turkey, the suffering did not end:

“The torment didn’t end after I left Syria. I lost most of my family. My extended family also disappeared. I know nothing about their whereabouts.”

Her journey back to Iraq was fraught with more obstacles.

“Later, I was detained in Turkey. I pleaded to be sent back to Iraq, but they refused because I had no passport or documents proving my Iraqi citizenship. I was held in Adana and released just four days before Eid al-Adha. Shockingly, the same ISIS fighter who had taken me to Syria was also detained in Turkey—and released at the same time as me. The suffering continued. Even in Turkey, I endured many unbearable moments,” she explained.

Her greatest wish now is to reunite with her remaining family members.

“My eldest brother, my father, and my younger brother are still missing. I know my mother is in Australia. I only hope to see her again someday—and to be reunited with my family,” she said.

Dima’s story is one of thousands that continue to emerge from the Yazidi community. According to official statistics, 3,587 Yazidi Kurds have so far been rescued from ISIS captivity and reunited with their families. Yet, hundreds remain unaccounted for, and efforts to locate and recover them are ongoing.

The rescue of Dima Amin is a testament to the continued struggle of Yazidi survivors and their families in the aftermath of genocide, as well as the pressing need for international and regional efforts to ensure justice, healing, and reunification.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/84 ... -captivity

The horror experienced by Dima Amin, the slaughter and kidnapping of so many in Kocho, could have all been avoided, as the attacks on Kocho took place more than a week after the initial attack on Sinjar

[Anthea]

Yazidi woman freed after 11 years
in ISIS captivity - Shafaq News

A Yazidi woman abducted by ISIS in 2014 has been freed after 11 years, activist Abdullah Shrem confirmed on Friday, noting that she was recently held in a prison in Turkiye before her release

Dima Amin, 24, from the village of Kocho south of Sinjar, was abducted along with her family during ISIS’s attack on the area. Although her mother, sister, and two brothers were freed in earlier operations, her father and two other brothers remain missing, with search efforts still underway.

Shrem, who has led rescue efforts since 2014, told Shafaq News that Dima had spent over a year in detention in Turkiye. Her release came nearly a month ago, following a coordinated operation that ensured her safe transfer through the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing into Duhok in the Kurdistan Region.

He expressed gratitude to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for facilitating the operation and supporting the rescued woman.

https://shafaq.com/en/Kurdistan/Yazidi- ... -captivity

[Anthea]

UN Condemns Attack on
Yazidi IDP Camp in Duhok

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Tuesday condemned a deadly explosion that struck an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Duhok province early Tuesday morning

The attack targeted the Darkar camp, which hosts displaced Yezidis, drawing sharp criticism from the United Nations. In a statement, the UN in Iraq stressed the urgent need to safeguard displacement camps and ensure they are never subjected to violence.

“The United Nations in Iraq calls for the protection of, and refraining from targeting, displacement camps – including the Darkar camp for Yazidi IDPs,” the statement read.

UNAMI urged Iraqi authorities to swiftly investigate the incident, hold the perpetrators accountable, and implement measures to prevent similar attacks in the future. It also emphasized the responsibility of the government to repair the damage caused and ensure the safety and dignity of those affected.

The attack is seen as a violation of both international humanitarian law and fundamental human rights, further compounding the trauma endured by displaced Yazidi families who have already suffered from past violence and persecution.

As of Tuesday evening, no group had claimed responsibility for the explosion. Local officials have launched an investigation.

"At 00:30 on Tuesday, a suicide drone crashed into the Darkar camp in the Darkar sub-district of Zakho, according to the Directorate General of Counter Terrorism (CTD). CT reported that while there were no human casualties, the incident did cause material damage.

Jawhar Mohammed, the director of the Darkar subdistrict in the Zakho independent administration, told Kurdistan24 on Tuesday that a drone crashed in the Darkar camp this morning, injuring a child.

He added that the origin of the drone had not yet been determined and that investigations are ongoing.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/84 ... p-in-duhok

[Anthea]

EZDINA - UNITED WE RISE

Why should we unite as Yezidis?

Because we are one people - with one soul, one history, and one sacred trust to protect:

For too long, our community has been divided by borders, politics, and pain. But today, more then ever, we need each other.

From Sinjar to Armenia. Europe to America - we may live in different places, but our roots are same.

What connects us is more powerful than what separates us:

• Our faith in Tawsi Melek
• Our language - whether Ezdiki or Kurmanci
• Our culture - our songs, stories, and sacred traditions
• Our resilience - born from centuries of survival

EZDINA’s Mission:

To bring together Yezidis from every country, every village, and every generation.

We believe that unity is not just a dream- it’s our responsibility, For our children. For our elders. For those we’ve lost, and those yet to be born:

• Let’s unite to preserve our language.
• Let’s unite to share our stories.
• Let’s unite to protect our identity.

Join us. Speak up. Connect. Create. Teach. Remember.

Together - we are stronger.

https://www.ezdina.com/

[Anthea]

Who are the Yazidis:

The origin of the Yazidis:

The Yazidis are one of the oldest peoples of the Middle East, and we find this in their occasions, customs, traditions, and daily behaviors.

The origin of most of these ceremonies goes back thousands of years, and among the peoples of Mesopotamia, such as the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and others.

Among these ceremonies and holidays, such as the Yazidi New Year and the Beland Festival, and also archaeologically, they found the name of the Yazidi on a stone tablet in the form of (A.Z.D.), meaning those who walk on the right path and who worship God and His angels.

The Yazidi religion also went through many stages and its interaction with the tribes and peoples of Mesopotamia, and it had an impact, sometimes negative and sometimes positive, but it remained committed to the constants of its religion, despite what it suffered and sacrificed a lot during many stages of the history of this religion.

[Anthea]

Yazidi survivor says
ISIS banned Kurdish language

A young Yazidi man who was reunited with his extended family on Sunday after spending more than a decade in Islamic State (ISIS) captivity, told Rudaw earlier this week that the extremist group banned him and other captives from speaking in their mother tongue, Kurdish

“They wouldn't allow us to speak our language, Kurdish. They also forced us to speak Arabic,” Rawand N.H., who is no longer able to speak Kurdish, said in an interview on Tuesday.

Speaking fluent Arabic, Rawand said ISIS forced him and other Yazidi captives to perform prayers, recite the Quran and do other Islamic practices. Those who did not follow the rules would be punished, including having their feet whipped with a stick.

Rawand, now 18, was rescued from ISIS captivity in the Syrian city of Raqqa by the Office of Rescuing Abducted Yazidis, which is affiliated with the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

Officials and his uncle say 77 members of Rawand’s extended family were abducted by ISIS when the group attacked Shingal in 2014. Thirty-nine of them remain unaccounted for

Rawand said he was never happier than the moment when he saw his family members after nearly 11 years of ISIS captivity.

The following is the transcript of the interview with Rawand:

Rudaw: Rawand, welcome back. How were you freed?

Rawand N.H.: The way I was rescued from ISIS was that a person came and took me to his family, as if they adopted me. I stayed with them for about seven years. The search for me began and they learned I was alive. I told someone, who in turn passed the news to another, and someone from there contacted me and learned I was alive.

He told me: ‘Don't worry, you have nothing to do with anything. I'll get you to your relatives.’ At first I didn't believe him, I told him: ‘You're lying.’ But after he called my uncle and talked to him, I recognized my uncle and he recognized me. I said: ‘Thank God.’ After that I came with him and stayed with him for about a month, then he brought me to my relatives.

Rudaw: Do you remember the day ISIS attacked Khansour [and captured you]?

Rawand N.H.: I remember we were in our house. We were several families together. They came and took us. When they took us, they put us in a school, I don't know where it was. After the school, they moved us and separated each of us from the other.

Rudaw: When was the last time you saw your parents and siblings?

Rawand N.H.: The last time I saw my father and siblings they were all together, but I don't remember the details well when that was.

Rudaw: In Khansour or somewhere else?

Rawand N.H.: No, it wasn't in Khansour. After they took us from Khansour and put us in a school, we stayed together for a while, then they separated them from us.

Rudaw: You don't remember where it was?

Rawand N.H.: No, honestly, I don't remember the areas.

Rudaw: Tell us about the rest of your story. After Khansour where did they take you, for example Mosul?

Rawand N.H.: After they took us from Khansour, they isolated the fathers, separated the young men, and separated children our age. My brother and I were together, and they took us separately. They taught us prayer and Quran recitation. You had to learn, and if you didn't, they would beat you.

They kept moving us from place to place, until the [Iraqi] state surrounded them. Then they no longer knew where to take us. That man came and took me. He took me to his family and I stayed with them for about seven years. After seven years, I said I want my family.

Rudaw: Did you participate in any training or battles?

Rawand N.H.: No, no battles, no training because I was a child.

Rudaw: So they didn't ask you to participate in training and battles?

Rawand N.H.: No, they only took the older ones for training and other things. I was young, so they didn't take me. I was about nine or ten years old then. They said I couldn't.

Rudaw: Do you remember how many years you stayed in Iraq before they took you to Syria?

Rawand N.H.: No, I just guess I was in Iraq for about ten years, something like that.

Rudaw: During that period, did you see any other Yazidi youth in Iraq or Syria?

Rawand N.H.: We were many, we were in a mosque, and our number was very large.

Rudaw: And after that…

Rawand N.H.: After that, everyone went in a different direction. One escaped, another fled, I don't know what. And this person came and took me, as if he adopted me.

Rudaw: Do you remember who was the last Yazidi youth you saw?

Rawand N.H.: The last person I saw was my brother.

Rudaw: Your brother? Is he older or younger than you?

Rawand N.H.: Older than me.

Rudaw: Where was that? Do you know where?

Rawand N.H.: I don't know, I don't remember. He came, I saw him and he saw me and left. I don't know where he went.

Rudaw: When you were with ISIS, did you have any information about your family? Where they were and where they went?

Rawand N.H.: No, they wouldn't tell me. They would take us to the mosque and house and leave us.

Rudaw: Do you remember them beating you once for something specific that still hurts in your memory?

Rawand N.H.: Something specific, if I was a little late for prayer, they would whip our feet, meaning they would beat us with sticks.

Rudaw: With sticks?

Rawand N.H.: Yes.

Rudaw: This was the punishment for being late to prayer?

Rawand N.H.: Yes.

Rudaw: What were the other punishments and what were their reasons?

Rawand N.H.: It was mostly beatings and things like that. If you didn't follow their rules, you would be beaten.

Rudaw: How were their rules, were they only about prayer or other things?

Rawand N.H.: Prayer, Quran recitation, study, then training.

Rudaw: Was the punishment only with sticks or other things?

Rawand N.H.: No, all punishments were with sticks.

Rudaw: Only with sticks?

Rawand N.H.: Yes, those who were with me, I knew what happened to them, but the others who were separated from us I don't know anything about them.

Rudaw: How many times were you punished? Was the beating strong or light?

Rawand N.H.: By God, how many times shall I count for you. I was punished a great many times. They wouldn't allow us to speak our language, Kurdish. They also forced us to speak Arabic.

Rudaw: So you didn't speak Kurdish for more than ten years?

Rawand N.H.: Yes, I haven't spoken Kurdish for ten years.

Rudaw: Do you know some Kurdish words now?

Rawand N.H.: Yes, I'm learning bit by bit, like "bashi?” (How are you?). “Hale ta?" (Are you fine?).

Rudaw:During the period you were in Iraq or Syria, was there anyone who spoke Kurdish with you?

Rawand N.H.: Never. If you spoke Kurdish with your friend in the mosque, they would beat you.

Rudaw: So the Kurdish language was forbidden?

Rawand N.H.: Speaking Kurdish was forbidden.

Rudaw: Was there a punishment for speaking Kurdish?

Rawand N.H.: Yes, there was a punishment.

Rudaw: When you returned and saw your relatives, they were all happy. How did you feel?

Rawand N.H.: Thank God, in these 11 years of my life, this is the first time I felt all this happiness.

Rudaw: Do you miss your parents and siblings? Are they in your memory?

Rawand N.H.: I don't remember my parents very clearly, but my uncle is like my father, and my aunt is like my mother. Thank God, my cousins are still here, thank God.

Rudaw: Do you now have any information about your family?

Rawand N.H.: No, I have no information.

Rudaw: Who told you that your parents and siblings are missing?

Rawand N.H.: Here they told me that my siblings and parents are missing like me.

Rudaw: Before you returned, did you have any information about them?

Rawand N.H.: No, before I came here, many people like me were waiting.

Rudaw: When coalition planes came and bombed the area, what did you do?

Rawand N.H.: They would tell us don't be afraid, don't be afraid. But there was a bombing. They would move us from house to house. We could feel the situation. Sometimes they would manipulate our minds and go blow themselves up.

Rudaw: How did you feel when someone told you: ‘I know your relatives and family and I came to rescue you’?

Rawand N.H.: My feeling was that I should go with him, but at first we had to communicate to make sure he was an acquaintance and not someone else who wanted to kidnap me.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/040720251

[Anthea]

PM Barzani Directs Universities to
Accommodate Yazidi Survivors

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – In a significant move to support the long-term recovery of those who endured the atrocities of ISIS, Kurdistan's Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has directed his government to implement special educational accommodations for survivors, particularly from the Yazidi community, to facilitate their return to higher education

An official letter from the KRG Council of Ministers was sent on Wednesday to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, outlining the prime minister's directive. The letter, signed by Dr. Omed Sabah, President of the Council's Diwan, instructs the ministry to create a framework to ease the path for registered survivors to continue their education, which for many was violently interrupted by the terrorist group.

The directive comes more than a decade after the ISIS genocide against the Yazidi community, which began on Aug. 3, 2014. During their brutal assault on Sinjar, ISIS militants committed mass killings, subjected thousands of women and girls to systematic sexual slavery, and sought to erase the ancient faith. According to official figures, ISIS kidnapped 6,417 people during the attack. While 3,589 Yazidi Kurds have since been rescued through efforts led by the KRG, the fate of approximately 2,500 remains unknown.

The Council of Ministers’ letter specifically requested two key accommodations. First, it called for the ministry to define a framework for the admission of survivors to all universities and institutes in the Kurdistan Region at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This framework is to provide "suitable accommodations while considering their academic standing," acknowledging the profound disruption to their lives and studies.

Second, the directive orders an exemption from tuition fees for the parallel study system at all universities and institutes under the ministry's purview. The parallel system is a common pathway in the region for students who do not meet the high competitive scores for regular public admission, but it typically requires students to pay tuition fees.

The letter explicitly states that these accommodations are for those individuals whose names are registered on the official list of survivors maintained by the relevant government authorities.

This educational initiative is part of a broader, ongoing effort by the Prime Minister's office to support the Yazidi community. For the past year, a monthly financial grant has been provided by Prime Minister Barzani's office to more than 3,500 Yazidi survivors of ISIS, aiming to provide a measure of financial stability as they rebuild their lives.

While the KRG's actions provide direct support within the region, they also complement efforts at the federal level. In 2021, the Iraqi Parliament passed the Yazidi Female Survivors Law, a landmark piece of legislation intended to provide reparations, healthcare, education, and land rights to survivors.

However, the implementation of this federal law has been slow, often hampered by bureaucratic delays, leaving many survivors still waiting for the comprehensive support it promises. The KRG’s directive provides a more immediate, targeted form of assistance in the crucial area of education.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/85 ... -survivors

[Anthea]

Baghdad Court Issues Death Sentence to
ISIS Member for Yezidi Genocide Crimes

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – On Thursday, the Karkh court in Baghdad issued a third verdict against an ISIS member accused of crimes against the Yezidis. The decision references the law concerning Yezidi women who survived ISIS, in particular Article 7/1, which acknowledges the genocide of Yezidis

The court announced that the suspect was sentenced to death for participating in several crimes against the Yezidis in Sinjar in 2014.

The court expressed its satisfaction with the decision and the punishment meted out to the perpetrators of these crimes.

It emphasized that the ruling is grounded in the law protecting Yezidi women who survived ISIS, highlighting its significance in serving citizens and its explicit recognition of the Yezidi massacre through important texts and articles.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/85 ... ide-crimes

[Anthea]

Yezidi Girl Reham Rescued
from al-Hol Camp After 11 Years

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Another Yezidi girl named Reham, who was kidnapped by ISIS fighters after the occupation of the Sinjar district and Nineveh province, has been rescued after 11 years

According to Mahir Elias, a Kurdistan24 reporter in Duhok, Reham was found and rescued by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the al-Hol camp located in al-Hasakah province.

Reham was only nine years old when ISIS fighters abducted her. Her sister and five brothers, along with 30 other close relatives, are still missing.

Reham's parents, who reside in the Esiyan camp in the Shekhan district of Duhok province, have traveled to Northeastern Syria (Rojava) to bring their daughter back to the Kurdistan Region.

According to Kurdistan24, Reham was kidnapped in 2014 during the ISIS attack on Khanasur town, along with 77 members of her family and relatives. Eleven years later, more than 30 of them remain missing.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/85 ... -captivity

[Anthea]

President Barzani urges Baghdad to facilitate
Yazidi returns on genocide anniversary

On the 11th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide by the Islamic State (ISIS), Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani reaffirmed commitment to Yazidi rights and well-being, urging Baghdad to implement a key 2020 agreement with Erbil aimed at “restoring normalcy” in the Yazidis’ ancestral homeland Shingal (Sinjar) and facilitate the return of displaced Yazidis

Speaking at a commemoration event in Erbil, the Kurdistan Region Presidency spokesperson Dilshad Shahab quoted President Barzani as emphasizing that “it is fundamentally the responsibility of the Iraqi government to ensure that [Shingal] Sinjar and the Yazidi regions do not become battlegrounds for armed factions and militias.” The ongoing instability in Shingal is “a significant injustice” to the Yazidis who “deserve support to heal and rebuild their lives,” he added.

President Barzani further urged Baghdad “to reestablish peace, security, and essential services” in Shingal and its surroundings to reassure the Yazidis “that they can safely return and rebuild their communities.” He also reiterated the need to implement the October 2020 Shingal Agreement between Baghdad and Erbil. The deal brokered with the support of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) aims to eliminate non-state armed groups from Shingal and normalize the administrative and security situation in Shingal.

In June 2014, ISIS seized large parts of northern and western Iraq. By August, the group launched a brutal assault on the Yazidi community in Shingal, killing an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 Yazidi men and older women, and abducting 6,000 to 7,000 women and girls for sexual slavery and human trafficking. Around 400,000 Yazidis were forced to flee, with most seeking refuge in the Kurdistan Region.

Although Iraq declared the full liberation of its territory from ISIS in 2017, around 21,000 Yazidi families remain displaced, primarily in camps in Kurdistan Region’s Duhok province. Their return is hindered by ongoing security concerns and the continued presence of various armed groups in Shingal.

President Barzani on Monday decried that “almost half” of Shingal’s Yazidi residents “continue to live in displacement and camps,” calling it unjust that "a Yazidi child born in the camps, is now 11 years old.” He further vowed that the Office of Rescuing Abducted Yazidis, affiliated with the Kurdistan Region Presidency, will continue its operations "as long as there remains even one Yazidi abductee” still in captivity.

As of May the Office reported that 2,590 Yazidis remain missing.

UN and international takes

Monday’s commemoration event in Erbil was organized by the Yazidi Yazda non-profit in partnership with the German Cooperation Organization (GIZ), both of which support survivors of the Yazidi genocide.

Speaking at the ceremony, Claudio Cordone, Deputy Special Representative for UNAMI, highlighted the Yazidi community’s ongoing struggle 11 years after the ISIS genocide. He expressed the UN’s “full solidarity with all the victims of [ISIS] Daesh, one of the most brutal, ignorant, and perverse ideologies in modern history,” and condemned the “unspeakable atrocities” committed against the Yazidis.

Cordone urged both Baghdad and Erbil to intensify and accelerate efforts to restore the rights of the Yazidis, stating that their recovery would represent “the ultimate defeat of Daesh.” He also outlined three key priorities: reparations, greater support for women forced to marry ISIS members and children born of rape, and enabling “voluntary, safe, and dignified” returns.

The deputy special representative for UNAMI also stressed the need to implement the stalled 2020 [Shingal] Sinjar Agreement, noting that “without stability and security, people cannot be expected to return.”

For his part, the United States Consul General to Erbil Steven Bitner reaffirmed Washington’s “solidarity with Yazidi families and survivors” and recognizes “their unimaginable loss and unwavering resilience." He emphasized the US’s commitment to helping communities recover and to preventing the resurgence of ISIS, pledging to “do everything possible to make sure that Daesh cannot return and revisit its horrors upon the world.”

Bitner further reiterated Washington’s efforts in "delivering accountability to those responsible” for the Yazidi genocide and “ensuring this can never happen again.”

Recognizing Iraq’s efforts toward peace and stability - with Yazidis playing a vital role in rebuilding - Bitner noted that challenges remain, including the internal displacement of “over one million Iraqis…including about 300,000 Yazidis, and of course the [cases of the] 2,558 Yazidis who remain missing and unaccounted for."

The US consul general called on the Iraqi government to support the safe return of Yazidi survivors by reaching consensus on appointing a mayor in Shingal, recruiting local police, and increasing reconstruction funding. Critically, Bitner warned that “militias beholden to Iran must leave areas liberated from Daesh, such as [Shingal] Sinjar,” stating their continued presence "prevents the return of the internally displaced population and hinders economic development."

Meanwhile, Albrecht von Wittke, the German consul general in Erbil, praised the "exceptional" courage of Yazidi survivors who "consciously chose to share their stories to make the voices of the forgotten heard." He acknowledged the ongoing pain of the Yazidi community, noting that “to this day, many wounds have not healed” as “the fate of more than 2,600 women and children remains uncertain.”

Von Wittke highlighted concrete steps by Germany, including the unanimous recognition of the Yazidi genocide by the German parliament in January 2023 - a move he called a “milestone in the global fight against impunity” that shifts the focus “from the perpetrators to justice for the victims.” He reaffirmed Germany’s “unwavering commitment to justice,” recognizing that survivors still face marginalization, trauma, and threats to their security and dignity.

Germany, a long-time provider of humanitarian aid, now prioritizes "long-term work for Yazidi families,” focusing on "education and employment" and supporting "those who want to return to Sinjar," von Wittke said, commending survivor-led initiatives, including those led by Yezidi Yazda and GIZ.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/280720251

[Anthea]

UNAMI Head Calls for Action on IDP Returns
Full Implementation of Sinjar Agreement

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Mohamed al-Hassan, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), stated during a press conference on Wednesday: "I hope the situation of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the camps will not continue as it is, and we will do our best to return them to their homeland, as this is their wish and hope."

Al-Hassan added, "We are going to discuss the issue of returning IDPs to their homeland with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi federal government."

He emphasized that no Iraqi wants the current situation of IDPs to persist. "Today, we will focus more on the situation of the IDPs and work towards finding a solution for them," he said.

Regarding the Sinjar Agreement, the UN envoy noted that the draft was prepared with the utmost goodwill, with the participation of many international experts.

"We still hope that the agreement will be implemented, and we will make every effort to ensure this. However, alongside the implementation of the agreement, we will strive to improve the situation for the people here and create an environment that allows them to return to their areas," he stated.

On Oct. 9, 2020, under the supervision of former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the Sinjar Agreement was signed in Baghdad. This agreement includes several provisions related to the normalization of administration, security, and reconstruction in the region.

The agreement was established five years after the liberation of Sinjar when the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces, led by President Masoud Barzani, freed the city from ISIS on Nov. 13, 2015.

The Sinjar Agreement aims to normalize conditions in Sinjar and the surrounding area, restore peace and stability, and provide compensation for IDPs. It is divided into four key themes: administration, stability, reconstruction, and follow-up on the implementation of the agreement's provisions

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/85 ... -agreement

[Anthea]

PM Masrour Barzani Congratulates to Yezidis on Summer Festival

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Friday, extended his warm congratulations to Yezidis (Ezidi) across Kurdistan and the world on the occasion of the Yezidi Summer Festival (Çileya Havînê), the annual festival that marks the fortieth day of summer celebrated on August 2

In a formal message, the Prime Minister conveyed his heartfelt wishes for joy and peace during the celebration and reaffirmed Kurdistan Government’s continued support for the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Yezidi community.

Çileya Havînê means the fortieth day of summer and is commonly used to indicate the middle of the season.

Below is the full text of the statement:

"On the occasion of the Yezidi Summer Festival (Çileya Havînê), I extend my sincere congratulations and blessings to all Yezidi brothers and sisters in Kurdistan and around the world, especially to the Prince of the Ezidi, the Baba Sheikh, and the esteemed members of the Spiritual Council.

We hope your days are filled with happiness and tranquility, and that this holiday brings you prosperity and blessings.

As we wish our Yezidi brothers and sisters a bright future, we reaffirm the Kurdistan Regional Government’s steadfast commitment to supporting their rights, aspirations, and legitimate demands.

May your days always be filled with joy and celebration."

Masrour Barzani
Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/855280/pm-masrour-barzani-extends-congratulations-to-yezidis-on-the-forty-day-summer-festival