The Coordinator of International Recommendations reaffirmed that Law No. (5) of 2015 on the Protection of Minority Rights in the Kurdistan Region recognizes the religious and national components that exist in the Kurdistan Region, including Zoroastrians. Additionally, Yazidis are considered original Kurdish people, and their religion is recognized in Law No. 5 of 2015.
Dindar Zebari, the Coordinator of International Recommendations, issued a clarification regarding the second day of discussions of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva. He pointed out that today there were observations on the recognition of the Zoroastrian religion. Their clarification was based on the fact that Law No. 5 of 2015 on the Protection of Minority Rights in the Kurdistan Region recognizes the religious and national components that exist in the Kurdistan Region, including Zoroastrians.
Regarding the Yazidis, the clarification stated that in the Kurdistan Regional Government’s speech delivered yesterday, it thoroughly discussed the Yazidi component as a religion, as well as the sufferings they endured at the hands of ISIS and the efforts of the Kurdistan Regional Government to accommodate and assist them, rescue the abducted, and treat them abroad.
The Coordinator of International Recommendations also noted that on the second day of the UN Committee discussions, they talked about Yazidi education, as well as supporting and documenting their people and the non-recognition of the crimes committed against Yazidis as genocide.
He reiterated that their clarification today on the second day regarding components was about a specific question about Zoroastrians who are recognized in the Kurdistan Region.
The official also stated: “Yazidi brothers and sisters, as a nationality, are original Kurds, and religiously, they are recognized in Law No. 5 of 2015. Additionally, administratively, there is a directorate in the regional government that supervises Yazidi education, and the subject of Yazidism is taught in areas where the majority of residents are of the Yazidi religion.”
Dindar Zebari also clarified regarding Yazidis that there is a General Directorate of Yazidi Affairs in the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs of the Kurdistan Region to oversee their affairs.