Sema
His Highness Prince Hazim Tahseen Said (Prince of the Ezidis in Iraq and the world, and Head of the Ezidi Supreme Spiritual Council) met with Mr. David Smith (UK Government Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief), accompanied by Princess Mian Khairy Bek (the Prince’s wife), Dr. Khalaf Sangary (Advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister for Ezidi Affairs), and Consul Bren Said Tahseen Bek. The meeting took place in the British capital, London.
During the meeting, His Highness reviewed the severe consequences suffered by the Ezidi community following the terrorist attack by ISIS on the city of Sinjar on August 3, 2014, including the genocide perpetrated by the extremist group during the assault.
He explained that the terrorist attack led to the killing of thousands of Ezidi men, women, and children, and the abduction of thousands of Ezidi women who were sold in slave markets. More than 2,600 Ezidi women and girls remain missing even after the military defeat of the terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria. This ongoing tragedy requires international support to locate and return them to their families.
His Highness emphasized that the genocide is still ongoing in many forms, as Ezidi areas continue to lack sufficient support, security, stability, and employment opportunities for youth. He pointed out that many Ezidis have not yet returned to their homeland and are living in difficult humanitarian conditions, enduring the harshness of both summer heat and winter cold.
The Prince also highlighted the importance of supporting the stability of Sinjar in terms of security, politics, administration, and basic services so that Ezidis can feel safe and return to their areas with dignity and honor.
Furthermore, he called for serious efforts to facilitate understandings between the governments of Baghdad and Erbil in order to find solutions for the stability of Sinjar and the return of displaced Ezidis.
His Highness also stressed the need to exempt Ezidi refugees currently residing in the UK and European countries from forced return to Iraq, as what happened to the Ezidis constitutes genocide and its effects are still ongoing. Europe has become their refuge and second home.
He underscored the importance of supporting both local and international efforts to search for the remaining abducted individuals, who are still suffering under the oppression of the terrorist group.
Finally, he urged the British government to play a role in facilitating mutual understandings on other unresolved issues between Baghdad and Erbil, including the issue of securing salaries for employees in the Kurdistan Region.