Sema
His Highness Prince Hazem Tahsin Saaed, the Prince of the Ezidis in Iraq and around the world and the Head of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Ezidis, received Mr. Claudio Cordone, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance. The meeting took place today at the Prince’s Palace in Sheikhan.
After welcoming Mr. Cordone and his accompanying delegation, the Prince discussed several key issues during the meeting. Among them was the return of displaced Ezidis to their homeland with dignity and security. He emphasized that while all Iraqis have returned to their homes over the past eleven years, the Ezidis remain the only group still displaced.
The Prince highlighted the urgent need to establish a legitimate local administration in Sinjar, which would facilitate the restoration of public services and the development of essential infrastructure.
He also addressed concerns over the upcoming conclusion of the UN mission in Iraq by the end of this year, including the wrap-up of the UN investigative team (UNITAD).
Furthermore, His Highness expressed deep concern about the rise in hate speech, which poses a direct threat to the rights of minorities in Iraq. He stressed the importance of countering such rhetoric to preserve the country’s social diversity.
For his part, Mr. Claudio Cordone reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations Office for Human Rights in Iraq to follow up on the Ezidi issue and to support their rights. He also underlined that the responsible Iraqi authorities must take full accountability in combating hate speech and preventing its spread through all available means.