10th Anniversary Survivor Stories: Riyadh

A dream lost and found

Riyadh grew up in the Tel Banat Complex, surrounded by a happy family. His father, a teacher, was the family’s pillar; his mother was endlessly affectionate, showering Riyadh and his siblings with love.

Riyadh was ambitious and selfless; he spent most of his time reading and helping his family, and he dreamed of one day attending a prestigious university and finding a fulfilling career.  

However, his dreams were crushed when ISIS terrorists attacked Sinjar, committing acts of genocide against the Yazidi people. The impact on Riyadh’s family was devastating: thirty-five members of his family were either killed or kidnapped, including his father and his oldest brother. Other family members only narrowly escaped death.

Once carefree and full of hope, Riyadh now found himself caring for younger siblings and a heartbroken mother. They had lost their home, their family, and their community.

Amidst the sorrow, Riyadh remembered his father's wise words: "A sound decision can change everything."

Guided by that advice, Riyadh embraced his role as caretaker and provider. Riyadh found a job, earning income to support his family and foregoing his own education even while insisting that his siblings go to school.

Eventually, with Riyadh’s support, two of his siblings completed their university studies. His sister graduated from the College of Arts, and his brother became a nurse. Soon after, the family’s youngest sister followed in their footsteps, enrolling in a community health program.

And then – finally – it was Riyadh's turn to resume his own academic journey. With his siblings’ education completed or underway, he himself enrolled at Al-Hadbaa University, College of Arts, Department of English Language. Riyadh graduated recently as one of the top students in his class.

Although he and his siblings have come so far, Riyad still remembers their painful past: "Genocide is a terrifying nightmare,” he says. “It took away the most precious possessions I had, and the grief of [my family’s] loss nearly killed me. “

“But I refused to accept that my world had ended, even though it would never be the same again. I knew I had to stand firm against the barbaric ISIS assault of 2014, and that education – for me and for my siblings – was the best way to do that.”

“We had a choice: to cease to exist, or to fight on and continue our lives. Even after all this time, my father’s words have stayed with me. Making the sound decision was our best weapon against the evil we faced.”

In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide, Nadia’s Initiative is sharing a series of survivor stories to highlight the impact of the genocide at an individual level. While these stories are harrowing, they shine a light on the incredible resilience of survivors.