Sema
On Wednesday, August 6, 2025, Adrian Yeslstein, the Netherlands Consul General in Erbil, accompanied by a delegation, visited the Lalish Temple, the holiest site of the Ezidis. The delegation was warmly received by Baba Chawish.
During the visit, discussions focused on the situation in Sinjar and the Ezidi genocide. The Ezidi community called on the Dutch delegation to support Sinjar’s farmers, emphasizing that such support is essential for enabling displaced people to return to their homeland.
Additionally, several proposals were presented to the Dutch delegation, including the need for academic support for the Ezidi community. These included offering university courses for Ezidi students in the Netherlands and facilitating exchange programs that would allow Dutch student delegations to visit Kurdistan and Lalish Temple. These visits would help Dutch students learn more about the Ezidi people’s history, civilization, and the genocide they faced, while also strengthening relations between the Ezidi and Dutch communities.
In response, Consul General Adrian Yeslstein stated, “We will convey the Ezidis’ requests and proposals to the Dutch government.”
Lalish Temple, located in the Sheikhan district of Duhok province, is the only sacred temple of the Ezidis and the site of all major religious festivals and ceremonies.
