Sema
Semel – In an official ceremony, the Directorate of Culture and Arts in Dohuk, in collaboration with the Directorate of Culture and Arts in Semel, honored researcher Daoud Murad Khatary, a member of the Lalish Cultural and Social Center, in recognition of his significant role in documenting the genocide suffered by the Yazidis in Shingal.
The ceremony took place in the hall of the Directorate in Semel, under the patronage of the Dohuk Governor, Dr. Ali Tatar, and was attended by prominent figures, including Amir Ali, the Director-General of Culture and Arts in Dohuk, Mr. Saeed Jirdo, the President of the Lalish Cultural and Social Center, Mr. Ihsan Amidi, the Director of the Khani Center for Culture and Media, as well as a large group of intellectuals, writers, scholars, and researchers.
This annual recognition, awarded by the Directorate of Culture and Arts in Semel, is granted to a prominent figure in the field of culture and arts. This year’s honoree, Daoud Khatary, was selected for his valuable contributions to the documentation and writing of the Yazidi genocide. The researcher has authored around 52 books on the recent Yazidi genocide, in addition to other topics related to the Yazidi community and their history.
In his speech during the ceremony, Daoud Murad Khatary expressed his gratitude for the honor, emphasizing the importance of documenting the testimonies of genocide survivors to achieve justice for the victims and to work towards preventing the repetition of such events in Yazidis’ history. He reaffirmed his commitment to continuing his efforts in this field.
The ceremony concluded with the researcher being awarded the gold medal, in an atmosphere of celebration that reflected the cultural community’s appreciation for his scholarly and academic work in documenting the genocide.
It is worth noting that the researcher works as the head of the Studies Department at the Lalish Cultural and Social Center and has been honored on many occasions for his contributions to writing, documentation, and his attention to the issues surrounding genocide.