Independence will put end to genocides against Ezidis, Kurds: PM Barzani

A referendum on independence is necessary as Kurds cannot risk the reoccurrence of yet another genocide in Iraq.

DOHUK, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A referendum on independence is necessary as Kurds cannot risk the reoccurrence of yet another genocide in Iraq, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said on Thursday.

During a ceremony to mark the third anniversary of the Islamic State's (IS) genocide of Yezidis (Ezidis), KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani highlighted the importance of the referendum as a step toward ensuring security in the Kurdistan Region.

“Unfortunately, we have no hope that Iraq can get better,” the Prime Minister stated. “We tried every avenue with Iraq, but we have lost faith.”

The KRG Prime Minister pointed to Kurdistan’s past experiences with Iraq, concluding that "there is no way we could defend ourselves or our rights in Iraq.”

Prime Minister Barzani emphasized the need to follow through with the independence referendum, scheduled for Sep. 25, 2017, to “show [the Region’s] ambitions to the whole world.”

The KRG Prime Minister also addressed the atrocities committed by IS against the Ezidi community in Sinjar (Shingal).

He said the tragedy the Ezidis experienced at the hands of IS affected Kurds across the Kurdistan Region.

“The voice of Shingal in this referendum is very important because it is the voice of the Anfal genocide and the voice of the pains of our people,” Prime Minister Barzani emphasized.

“The KRG will do its best to reduce the pain of what happened to our beloved Ezidis,” he added.

Three years ago, IS launched a genocidal campaign against the Ezidis in Shingal carrying out mass executions, kidnappings, and rape.

Nearly 5,000 Ezidi men were killed while thousands of children and women were abducted.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, over 1,600 women and girls remain in IS captivity while nearly 1,700 men and boys remain missing.

 

Editing by G.H. Renaud