Kurdistan President Demands Justice for Yazidis 11 Years After Sinjar Atrocities
"The Yazidis and their areas must no longer be the arena of illegal forces and the settlement of regional agendas," President Nechirvan Barzani emphasized.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, called on Monday, for the swift implementation of the Sinjar agreement and emphasized the ongoing plight of the Yazidi community, 11 years after the 2014 genocide.
Barzani, speaking at an international academic conference on the Yazidi genocide held at the University of Kurdistan in Erbil, stressed the urgent need for full justice and comprehensive support for the Yazidis. “The tragedy inflicted on the Yazidis was an unprecedented wound and a shameful chapter in human history,” he said, highlighting that nearly half of the community still lives in difficult conditions in displacement camps, with an uncertain future ahead.
The conference was attended by Mir Hazim Tahsin Beg, head of the Yazidi community, along with government officials and representatives from international organizations. Barzani underscored the collective responsibility of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the international community to provide what is necessary for the protection and rehabilitation of the Yazidi people.
He also called on Erbil and Baghdad to cooperate fully to stabilize Sinjar and prevent illegal forces from disrupting the region.
"The Yazidis and their areas must no longer be the arena of illegal forces and the settlement of regional agendas," President Nechirvan Barzani emphasized.
Barzani recalled the immediate response of the Kurdistan Region at the onset of the 2014 tragedy, noting that thousands of Yazidis were rescued by the Peshmerga under the command of President Masoud Barzani, sacrificing their lives to save the community.
“Scientific and academic research on the Yazidi genocide will serve as an essential resource for both the present and the future,” he added, emphasizing the role of documentation in holding perpetrators accountable and supporting justice for survivors.
Mir Hazim Tahsin Beg also addressed the conference, recalling the suffering endured by the Yazidis during the 2014 ISIS attacks. He urged that measures be taken to restore the dignity of the Yazidi people and ensure that their files and testimonies remain alive in the global conscience, serving as a foundation for justice and accountability.
According to Hussein Qaidi, head of the Yazidi Resettlement Office, more than 3,591 Yazidis have been rescued since 2014, yet many still remain displaced. He criticized Iraq’s Ministry of Migration and Displacement for delays in implementing the Sinjar agreement, noting that about 75 Yazidis currently continue to live in harsh camp conditions.
Displaced Yazidis from Sinjar, including Pir Sofyan and Hussen Bashkani, voiced concern over the ministry’s recent decisions, warning that they could disrupt the demographic balance and delay the return of Yazidis to their homes. Speaking to Kurdistan24, they called for urgent measures to facilitate the safe and dignified return of Yazidis to their communities.
Barzani concluded by reaffirming the Kurdistan Region’s readiness to cooperate with Baghdad and international partners to provide material, psychological, and legal support to the Yazidi community, restore their homes, and prevent a recurrence of such tragedies.
The conference, which brings together local and international researchers, aims to examine the genocide academically and discuss solutions to the ongoing challenges faced by Yazidis, particularly in addressing displacement, justice, and rehabilitation.
The 2014 ISIS attack on Sinjar represented one of the most brutal episodes in recent Middle Eastern history. ISIS Militants systematically targeted the Yazidi population, killing thousands of men and boys, abducting women and girls, and subjecting them to widespread sexual slavery. Entire families were torn apart, with children forced into indoctrination and military training.
Thousands of Yazidis were displaced, many fleeing to the Kurdistan Region, while sacred sites, villages, and cultural landmarks were destroyed in an attempt to erase the Yazidi identity. The trauma inflicted during this campaign continues to affect survivors, leaving deep physical, psychological, and social scars that persist even 11 years later.
Iraqi government policies have drawn criticism for failing to facilitate the safe return of displaced Yazidis. Recent decisions by the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement to relocate displaced families have provoked anger, as many fear demographic changes in Sinjar and a lack of proper consultation with the Yazidi community.
Residents like Sofyan and Bashkani expressed concern over these relocation plans, saying that displaced Yazidis have lived in camps for 11 years and still lack a safe path to return home. They stressed that the Iraqi government must ensure security, justice, and reconstruction so that Yazidis can rebuild their lives and communities.
