Abadi says Baghdad supports safe return of Ezidis to Shingal

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Spiritual Leader of the Yezidis (Ezidis), Baba Sheikh, met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday to discuss the return of displaced Ezidis to their hometowns.

Abadi stated that his government was “determined” to help displaced Ezidis to return home, but only after the areas are “secured” following the final defeat of the Islamic State (IS), according to the Prime Minister’s media office.

Sinjar (Shingal) is one of the Kurdish Ezidi-populated cities which are part of the disputed territories between Baghdad and Erbil. IS took over and occupied Shingal in August 2014, leading to an enormous humanitarian crisis in Iraq and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Ezidis to the Kurdistan Region.

Abadi, in the meeting, stated that Baghdad would facilitate Ezidis’ return as soon as possible, “after making sure their areas are free of mines and explosives.”

He mentioned that the Federal Government of Iraq was seeking to implement a plan to “support stability” in Shingal and in west Mosul, in cooperation with the international community.

“Baghdad is determined to follow up on what happened [to the Ezidis],  their displacement and murder,” Abadi said, without describing the acts committed against the minority as a genocide. 

The Iraqi Premier pledged that his government will continue to search for victims of terrorism.

Dozens of mass graves of Ezidis have been found, and thousands of Ezidis remain kidnapped since 2014.

In a military operation, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces with the support of the US-led coalition liberated Shingal in Nov. 2015. The city remains largely in ruins due to the fight against the jihadist group.

The number of Ezidis in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region was about 550 thousand people before 2014.   Thousands of them have fled to safety abroad, and 360,000 were displaced to the Kurdistan Region and Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava).

Shingal is currently under the control of the Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militias following the attack and takeover of Kirkuk and other disputed territories on Oct. 16.

Editing by Nadia Riva