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

[Anthea]

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