Ezidi leader calls all Ezidis to vote 'Yes' in Kurdistan referendum

The leader of Yezidi (Ezidi) people around the world Mir Tahseen Beg on Friday called on all the Ezidis inside and outside the Kurdistan Region to participate in the independence referendum and vote “Yes.”

DOHUK, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The leader of Yezidi (Ezidi) people around the world Mir Tahseen Beg on Friday called on all the Ezidis inside and outside the Kurdistan Region to participate in the independence referendum and vote “Yes.”

“The Kurdistan referendum is on Sep. 25 where the people will decide on their future,” Beg said during a press conference in Dohuk. “We all support the referendum.”

“I urge all the Ezidis inside and outside of Iraq to participate in the referendum and vote ‘Yes’ for the independence of Kurdistan,” the Ezidi leader continued.

“We request to have our areas linked with the Kurdistan Region,” he added.

The Ezidi leader said he had discussed the rights of Ezidis with the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani.

According to Beg, both leaders agreed that all ethnic and religious groups in the Kurdistan Region should be treated equally along with the Kurds.

There are about one million Ezidis in the Kurdistan Region as well as the diaspora.

The religious group has suffered continuous genocides and mass executions throughout history in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

Mayor of Ezidis in the city of Sinjar (Shingal) Mahma Khalil and the Council of the City had previously called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to include Shingal and surrounding towns in the upcoming referendum.

Despite opposition from neighboring countries and the international community, the Kurdish leadership insists on holding the independence vote.

President Barzani has reiterated the people of the Kurdistan Region have the right to decide on their future democratically and peacefully.

 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany