Statement from Yazidi Civil Society on the 10th Anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide
Today, as we commemorate this painful 10-year anniversary, we recall the genocide committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) against the Yazidis. We are here in the heart of our greatest sorrow, the land of genocide, Sinjar, to remind the world of this harsh reality. Recognizing the tendency to only remember the genocide on this day without acknowledging that it is ongoing, our goal is to shift the world’s perspective.
We come together today for one purpose: to ensure that this genocide does not merely become another number in the long history of genocides against this ancient people of the Middle East, who for centuries have been victims of history and geography, and of differences in religious and national identity.
As we commemorate the first decade that has passed since the genocide we endured, we wish to convey to the international and local community that the genocide has not ended. It persists today in all its ramifications, impacts, and causes, and in the ideology of its perpetrators.
As we reflect on our pain and suffering on this tenth anniversary, we know the law remains incapable of realizing its potential—not only in delivering justice to the victims, but also in holding the perpetrators accountable for their crimes and punishing those responsible for the fall of Sinjar.
A decade has passed, and while the world begins to forget about this genocide, nearly three thousand Yazidis remain missing, dozens of mass graves have yet to be exhumed, and over two hundred thousand people remain displaced amid ongoing disputes over Sinjar, with its people used as pawns in the conflicts, both in areas of displacement and regions of return.
With a foundation in Yazidi values and driven by our shared commitment to a single goal, we believe in collective action to advance the Yazidi cause. We recognize that our just cause will only triumph through unity, and that it requires a truly collective effort.
Therefore, we, the sons and daughters of the Yazidi community, with our community leaders, survivors, and civil society, have come together to appeal to the conscience of the honorable people of Iraq, of all ethnicities and affiliations, and to our homeland with its government. We also stand united in urging friendly countries, their governments, and their people, to uphold the highest international principles and values associated with the protection of minority rights and freedoms through the application of all appropriate legal mechanisms and relevant international law.
While we commend the recognition of the genocide by many countries, we also call on others to acknowledge what happened to the Yazidis, recognize the genocide, and bring their citizens who joined ISIS to justice.
Today, we express our dissatisfaction with any official or unofficial actions, from various institutions, that commemorate this genocide without contributing in a way that promotes the principles of transitional justice. Some wish to remember while asking us to forget, making promises for ten years and continually failing to deliver on them.
Guarantees that genocides will not recur are nowhere to be found, and the harsh consequences of the current genocide remain a daily reality, with the political interests and ideological leanings of decision-makers always taking precedence over institutional health, human well-being, and legal rights.
Given our conviction that achieving these ambitious humanitarian goals requires cooperation and collective commitment, we now direct a series of demands to the Iraqi government and the international community, recognizing that this is not the first time we’ve done so:
First - The International Community
We call on the international community to:
Convene an international conference of foreign ministers from countries concerned about the Yazidi issue, particularly those that have recognized the Yazidi genocide, or a UN Security Council session to issue serious, clear, and binding decisions for the relevant parties to resolve the Yazidi dilemma. Distance Sinjar from regional conflicts and handle the Yazidi issue according to international norms and laws protecting minorities and indigenous peoples.
Establish an international fund for the reconstruction of Sinjar, under UN auspices and with Iraqi participation. Its goal should be the comprehensive reconstruction of all Yazidi areas damaged or destroyed by ISIS, including both public and private infrastructure. Provide direct support for affected citizens and displaced persons to facilitate their return. Allocate a fixed percentage of Iraq's budget in the coming years to contribute to such a fund along with other countries.
Oblige all countries whose citizens joined ISIS and those that supported the organization in any way to hold the terrorists accountable. Establish an international court or investigative committee to follow up on the work of the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) after its legal term ends, with clear mechanisms for holding criminals accountable, whether individuals, institutions, or political bodies that provided direct or indirect support.
Second - The Iraqi Government
We call on the Iraqi government to:
Take meaningful steps toward applying transitional justice according to international standards following genocides. This includes achieving justice through prosecution and punishment of ISIS terrorists in fair trials, excluding them from any general or special amnesty, and ensuring that they are not party to political deals. Rebuild Yazidi areas, compensate survivors and others affected by the genocide fairly and transparently, expedite the implementation of the Yazidi Survivors’ Law while providing the necessary budget. We further demand administrative and legal reforms, including enacting a law recognizing the Yazidi genocide to prevent future crimes and protect Yazidis; enforcing laws meant to deter hate speech; empowering the Yazidi community; and integrating the community into Iraqi society. Educational reforms in school curricula to reject violence and extremism in Iraqi society are also needed.
Transform Sinjar into a province to ensure it is managed by its people, liberate it from the injustice it has suffered for decades, and restore areas – such as Qahtaniya subdistrict – that were separated from it. This should be carried out as compensation for the sacrifices of Sinjar's people and to free the region from political, regional, and sectarian conflicts, as well as demographic changes. The Iraqi government must assume its responsibility in preserving the sovereignty of Iraqi land, preventing any attacks, bombings, or assaults, and ensure Sinjar is not turned into a regional conflict zone. All parties must respect the Yazidi tragedy and guard them from local or external conflicts, especially as the Yazidi people have never been a threat to any country, region, or political bloc.
Facilitate, and overcome all obstacles hindering, the safe and voluntary return of displaced persons by providing improved services and adequate financial support to rebuild what terrorism and time have destroyed. Each family requires a minimum of 15 million Iraqi dinars to achieve this goal. The government should provide funds, loans, or building materials, especially for those without housing or whose homes were destroyed. Furthermore, we demand that state and local authorities utilize reputable international and local organizations in providing better services to citizens.
Resolve the internal security issue in Sinjar by creating a legal mechanism to integrate Yazidi forces that fought ISIS according to Iraqi legal standards, drawing on similar international scenarios. This would allow the people of the region to manage security in Sinjar under state authority. We also demand that the government address the injustice against Yazidis in job grades, as they are deprived in their areas of residence under the pretext of minority quotas. Yazidis make up over 85% of the population of Sinjar, yet they receive less than 2% of vacant jobs under the minority quota.
Expedite the exhumation of remaining mass graves, identify the victims, return their remains, and facilitate victim-related transactions in the relevant departments. Search in earnest for the remaining Yazidi individuals still held by ISIS and its supporters.
Update Iraqi penal laws to include genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes among the criminal acts punishable by law. To prosecute ISIS members adequately and according to their crimes, establish a specialized court with international involvement similar to those created in other countries where genocides occurred.
In conclusion, we stand before the international community today to declare that Sinjar is safe with its people. Restoring it to life is a moral responsibility that rests on everyone.
Yazidi Civil Society
City of Sinjar
August 3, 2024
The Tenth Anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide