“This memorial will stand here, as a monument to the Yazidis who died,
and a symbol of the strength of those who survived.”
Yazidi Genocide Memorial
Located in Solagh Village just outside of Sinjar City, the “Yazidi Genocide Memorial” is a monument to those who suffered and died at the hands of ISIS during the genocide, and a place of rememberance and healing for those families who were never reunited with their loved ones.
With input from survivors and the local community, and the assistance of a Yazidi architect, the memorial project was carried out by Nadia’s Initiative (NI) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Situated near the so-called “Grave of Mothers”, where many older Yazidi women were murdered, the memorial stands as a testament to some of the most horrific crimes against humanity in history. As the Yazidi community continues to rebuild in the aftermath of genocide, the site represents just one form of justice which Yazidis and other minority communities in Iraq desperately deserve.
The first of its kind in Sinjar, the memorial is an important and somber commemoration of genocide across generations, and serves as a tribute to the resilience of the families of the victims.
“I felt that it was important for it to stand right here, keeping watch over the graves of the mothers. This is where my own mother, along with many others, was left, right here, but never forgotten.”
The Inauguration of the Yazidi Genocide Memorial
The memorial was inaugurated on October 18, 2023, during an event hosted by Nadia’s Initiative and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). It was attended by survivors and the local community, government officials, and representatives from diplomatic missions across Iraq.
Nadia Murad delivered remarks at the opening ceremony, calling on the Iraqi government to do more to support the Yazidis, and highlighting the significance of the site both as a reminder of the depths humanity can sink to, but also as a testament to the strength and resilience of the Yazidi community as they rebuild their lives after genocide. The “Grave of Mothers”, located within the memorial site, is where Nadia’s own mother was killed by ISIS.
