Sema
His Highness Hazim Tahsin Saeed, Prince of the Ezidis in Iraq and the world and President of the Supreme Ezidi Spiritual Council, received a delegation from the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Freedom of Religion or Belief, headed by Jim Shannon. The meeting was attended by Dr. Khalaf Sinjari, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Ezidi Affairs.
After welcoming the visiting delegation, His Highness discussed ways to promote the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the region.
The Prince highlighted key issues facing the Ezidi community, foremost among them the genocide committed against the people of Sinjar in 2014. He reviewed the ongoing challenges confronting the community, particularly the fate of thousands of abducted women who remain missing, as well as the multiple crises endured by displaced families. He stressed the need for genuine solutions based on mutual understanding between the governments in Baghdad and Erbil, under international and UN supervision to ensure effective implementation.
During the meeting, His Highness also raised several critical rights-related issues concerning minorities in Iraq, including:
- The Personal Status Law and related challenges in both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region.
- The need to increase the number of quota seats allocated to Ezidis in proportion to their actual population.
- The importance of enacting and enforcing legislation criminalizing hate speech and sectarian incitement.
- The call to establish a special court to prosecute perpetrators of ISIS terrorist crimes.
- The necessity of appointing a consensual local administration in Sinjar acceptable to all parties, tasked with ensuring security and essential services to enable the safe and dignified return of residents.
At the conclusion of the meeting, His Highness invited the delegation to visit the displacement camps to witness firsthand the difficult humanitarian conditions faced by thousands of Ezidis.