Sema
The visit of the British Ambassador to Baghdad, Mr. Stephen Hickey, to the Lalesh Temple took place as part of the United Kingdom’s efforts to support religious minorities in Iraq, particularly the Yazidi community. During the visit, His Highness Prince Hazem Tahseen Bek, accompanied by Father Ghazwan, welcomed him, and they discussed several important topics related to the current situation in Iraq, including the conditions of the Yazidis in the Sinjar region and the issue of displaced persons.
Prince Hazem Tahseen Bek emphasized the importance of international support for the Yazidi community, especially in light of the challenges they face after being subjected to genocide by ISIS in 2014. They also discussed the Iraqi Parliament’s decision regarding the release of prisoners and the dangers of repeating the scenario of violence against religious minorities in Iraq. The Prince pointed out the urgent need to provide security and basic services to the displaced people to enable them to return to their original areas in Sinjar.
This visit is part of the ongoing British efforts to support Iraq in the areas of security, human rights, and the protection of religious minorities. Ambassador Hickey reiterated the UK’s commitment to assisting the displaced people and ensuring their safe return to their homes. He also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government in implementing the Sinjar Agreement, which aims to facilitate the return of thousands of Yazidis to their areas.