On the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide, a ceremony was held in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. During this ceremony, Mir Hazim Tahsin Beg, the Yazidi Emir, delivered an important speech. He commemorated the thousands of innocent civilians who were massacred by the terrorist organization ISIS. Mir Hazim pointed out that at the beginning of the genocide, more than six thousand Yazidi citizens were killed and kidnapped, making this one of the greatest crimes against humanity in the 21st century.
The Yazidi Emir also highlighted the immense material and moral damage inflicted upon the Yazidi community. 94 mass graves have been discovered and dozens of religious shrines were destroyed, causing significant harm to Yazidi culture and identity. He also emphasized that thousands of kidnapped Yazidis are still unaccounted for and many mass graves remain unopened, which continues to cause ongoing pain and suffering for the victims’ families.
In a significant part of his speech, Mir Hazim expressed gratitude to the people and government of the Kurdistan Region for their assistance and support during the crisis. He specifically thanked Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region, for opening the Office for Rescuing Kidnapped Yazidis, and also thanked Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Region, for his help to the survivors. These gestures demonstrate the important role the Kurdistan Region has played in assisting and protecting the Yazidis.
At the end of his speech, the Yazidi Emir called for Yazidi citizens to return to their homes with dignity. This request highlights the importance of creating a safe and secure environment for the return of Yazidis. However, this is associated with major challenges, including a lack of security, poor infrastructure, and a lack of economic opportunities in their areas. Therefore, the international community needs to continue supporting the Yazidis and the Iraqi government to address these issues and provide suitable conditions for the safe and dignified return of Yazidis.