Sema
Hundreds of Ezidi Families in Aleppo Issue Urgent Appeal: Over 1,200 Families Fear Genocide
Hundreds of Ezidi families living in Aleppo have issued an urgent appeal, warning of serious threats to their existence amid what they describe as forced displacement, sieges, and indiscriminate shelling. They called on the relevant authorities to intervene immediately to prevent a potential genocide.
The appeal, issued today, Wednesday, January 6, 2026, by Ezidis residing in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods, was directed to the Ezidi Spiritual Council in Iraq, Ezidi representatives in the Iraqi Parliament, and local Ezidi organizations and bodies.
They stated that the Ezidi population in these two neighborhoods exceeds 1,200 families, most of whom are currently facing displacement, siege, and indiscriminate attacks.
In their statement, the Ezidis urged “immediate intervention and communication with the relevant authorities in Syria, the international community, and organizations concerned with humanitarian affairs and minority rights,” stressing that the goal is to “prevent any genocide or mass killing of Ezidis trapped in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh and those displaced from these areas.”
Expressing their fears, the Ezidis added: “We are concerned about the repetition of tragedies similar to what happened in Sweida and the Syrian coast, and we want to ensure that Ezidis are not subjected to the same fate because of their religious identity.”
The families concluded their appeal by saying: “We hope for a rapid response to protect our people and ensure their safety.”
President Masoud Barzani Warns Against Ethnic Cleansing Amid Aleppo Clashes
President Masoud Barzani, in a statement regarding the events in Aleppo, emphasized that political disagreements “cannot justify putting civilians’ lives at risk or carrying out ethnic cleansing against the Kurdish people,” warning that such acts “constitute crimes against humanity with severe and unforgivable consequences.”
In his statement on the situation in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods of Aleppo, issued today, President Barzani noted that political changes in Syria “have created a good opportunity to develop a suitable roadmap that ensures the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people in Syria and addresses all contentious issues.”
He highlighted the “tireless efforts” he has made with all parties, “believing in the necessity of resolving all disputes and problems through dialogue and peaceful means.”
President Barzani warned that the current fighting and violence in Aleppo “raises serious concern and poses a threat to the lives of civilians and innocent citizens, amid threats of ethnic cleansing against the Kurds in the area.”
The statement comes as clashes continue for the second consecutive day between government forces and the Asayish forces of the Autonomous Administration, marking some of the fiercest confrontations in months, with government armored units and tanks deployed around the Kurdish neighborhoods.