Sema
Ezidi Prince Mir Hazim Tahsin Beg Rejects Forced Assimilation Decision by Iraq’s Ministry of Migration
The Prince of the Ezidis in Kurdistan, Mir Hazim Tahsin Beg, voiced the Ezidi community’s firm rejection of the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement’s decision to forcibly assimilate Ezidis into the broader society, warning of the long-term implications such a move could have on the future of their cause.
His remarks came during the International Academic Conference on the Genocide of the Ezidis, which began today in Erbil, attended by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, along with local and international scholars. The two-day conference presents academic research and documentation related to the 2014 genocide and its ongoing impact on the Ezidi community.
Speaking at the event, Mir Hazim Tahsin Beg said the catastrophe that struck the Ezidis more than a decade ago continues to leave devastating consequences. “Hundreds of thousands still live in camps, and thousands of women and children remain without shelter,” he said, emphasizing that the return of Ezidis to their areas can only happen through comprehensive reconstruction that guarantees them a dignified life.
Regarding the Iraqi ministry’s decision, the prince warned that “forcibly integrating Ezidis into the host society will only complicate the issue further and undermine international recognition of the genocide committed against them.” He added emphatically: “We categorically reject forced assimilation.”
Gratitude to the Kurdistan Region
Mir Hazim Tahsin Beg concluded his speech by thanking the Kurdistan Region for hosting displaced Ezidis, particularly those from Shingal (Sinjar). He expressed deep gratitude to President Nechirvan Barzani for “his major role in rescuing thousands of Ezidis” during the brutal ISIS attack in 2014.