yazda

UPDATE : French judge orders trial against female jihadist for complicity in genocide against the Yazidis

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:52:13 GMT

UPDATE

French judge orders trial against female jihadist for complicity in genocide against the Yazidis

Lolita C. joined ISIL in Syria in 2014, where she married ISIL fighter Lakhdar S. She is accused of having enslaved an eight-year-old Yazidi girl for more than one month in 2017, amounting to complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity according to the investigative judge.

Lolita C. will be the second French woman to face an Assize Court over alleged involvement in the genocide against the Yazidis. No trial date has yet been announced.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda commented:

“The French investigative judges’ decision to send the case to trial marks an important step toward justice for Yazidi women and girls who were subjected to ISIL’s system of enslavement and abuse. It sends a clear message: French authorities recognize that participation in the enslavement of a Yazidi child forms part of a coordinated plan aimed at the destruction, in whole or in part, of the Yazidi community. We commend the French State for their firm commitment to hold their nationals accountable for the crimes committed against the Yazidi people.”

These proceedings unfold amid a broader judicial reckoning in France for crimes committed against the Yazidis. In March of this year, the Paris Assize Court convicted French ISIL fighter Sabri E., known as Abu Dojanah al-Faransi, of genocide and crimes against humanity. In March 2027, a further trial is set to open against female ISIL member Sonia M. on charges of genocide against the Yazidis.

Paris Criminal Court Convicts Lafarge for Financing Terrorism in Syria in Landmark Decision Against a Company

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:32:17 GMT

Paris Criminal Court Convicts Lafarge for Financing Terrorism in Syria in Landmark Decision Against a Company

Paris, 13 April 2026

Today, the Paris Criminal Court found former executives and security managers of Lafarge SA and its Syrian branch Lafarge Cement Syria guilty of financing terrorism and the violation of international sanctions. This is the first time a French company has been convicted of financing terrorism.

Prison sentences range from 18 months to 7 years, with fines ranging from €20,000 to €225,000 (the maximum amount for these crimes) to be paid to the French State. The company itself, Lafarge SA, was sentenced to pay a fine of 1,125,000€, the maximum penalty for a legal person.

Bruno Lafont, former CEO, was sentenced to six years in prison and a fine of 225,000€ whereas Christian Herrault , former Director of operations for Syria, received a five-year prison sentence and a 225,000€ fine. Both were arrested today, immediately after the verdict.

Bruno Pescheux , Director of the Syrian subsidiary, Lafarge Cement Syria (LCS) received a five-year prison sentence, as well as a fine of 225,000€. Frédéric Jolibois, who replaced Pescheux in this role, was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 80,000€.

Ahmad Al-Jaloudi and Jacob Waerness , both Security Managers of the factory in Jalabiya were respectively sentenced to two years in prison plus a fine of 20,000€ and 18 months in prison with the same fine. Both were not present at the verdict, and arrest warrants have been issued against them.

Amro Taleb , who acted as intermediary between Lafarge and ISIL, received a three-year sentence and a 60,000€ fine. Absent at the verdict hearing, an arrest warrant was issued against him.

Finally, Firas Tlass , Syrian businessman and an intermediary between Lafarge and ISIL, was sentenced to seven years in prison, as well as a 225,000€ fine. Absent both at the trial and the verdict, an arrest warrant against him has been renewed.

Commenting on the verdict, Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, stated:

“Survivors often tell us that ISIL’s crimes were not committed by a group of individuals alone but were made possible by a broader system. Today’s decision against a company is a powerful recognition of that reality. It sends a clear message: economic actors cannot ignore the consequences of their actions when lives are at stake and when a genocide unfolds in proximity to their operations.”

Court’s Findings

Throughout the six-week trial held from 4 November 2025 to 19 December 2025, the defendants argued that they were unaware of the terrorist nature of groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, and ISIL between 2012 and 2014, when payments totaling $5.5 million were made. They denied any criminal intent, claiming the payments resulted from extortion or security constraints, without personal enrichment.

However, the Court rejected these arguments. It found that the executives were aware of the terrorist nature of the groups and that Lafarge demonstrated deliberate indifference in continuing its operations.

The presiding judge stated:

“They discussed, negotiated, and paid in order to continue their operations – even as the factory was surrounded by ISIL.”

The judge further recalled that:

“On 3 August 2014, only fifteen kilometers from Syria’s border, ISIL began a genocide against the Yazidi people , with mass executions, forced displacement, and the enslavement of women and children.”

Yazda’s lawyers Rachel Lindon and Louis Falgas commented:

“In the Court’s initial report of the Lafarge case in November last year, the Yazidi genocide was not mentioned. Today the Paris Criminal Court, upon convicting all the parties referred to it, described in detail the suffering of the Yazidi people at the hands of ISIL, sparing no detail as to the forced displacements, the summary executions, mass sexual enslavement and other acts of unfathomable violence endured. This rulling is a steppingstone for Yazda’s continued judicial advocacy.”

Role of Civil Society Organizations

Yazda acknowledges the essential role of Sherpa and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights ( ECCHR ), alongside former Syrian employees of Lafarge, in initiating the criminal complaint in 2016 and supporting victims throughout nearly a decade of proceedings. Their sustained efforts were instrumental in bringing this case before the French courts and advancing corporate accountability for serious international crimes. Despite their courage and central role in exposing the facts, the former Syrian employees were not admitted as civil parties; their fight for justice continues.

Yazda testified alongside these organizations and former employees. On 9 December 2025, Navrouzov addressed the court to urge that the genocide of the Yazidis be given the attention it requires, ensuring that Yazidi voices were heard and that the tribunal fully grasped the consequences of financing terrorist groups. She stressed that “behind the figures, behind the negotiations to keep a factory running, there is the fate of a community. Financing a terrorist group is not a neutral act, it feeds a machine that kills, enslaves, and destroys.”

The Court also declared Yazda’s civil party status admissible, recognizing the important role that organizations representing victims of terrorist groups play in the search for the truth.

Yazda’s lawyer Luke Vidal commented:

“We are pleased that Yazda's civil party application has been declared admissible. This recognition is the culmination of its founding mission: to defend the rights of the Yazidi community whenever criminal proceedings are brought in connection with the genocide of which it was a victim.”

Ongoing Proceedings

The defendants have 10 days to appeal the decision. If an appeal is filed, the case will be reviewed by a higher court, which may confirm, modify, or overturn the judgment. As such, the convictions and sentences are not yet final.

In parallel, the investigation into Lafarge’s potential complicity in crimes against humanity remains ongoing. This separate judicial track, confirmed by French courts and still under investigation, could lead to a future trial, although no timeline has been set for the closing of the investigation.

Yazda is a civil party in these proceedings and will continue to actively support the investigation, with the expectation that this part of the case will also be brought to trial.

For Yazda and the survivors it represents, this phase is essential: it seeks to establish responsibility not only for financing terrorism, but for the broader system that enabled the commission of international crimes, including the genocide against the Yazidis and crimes against the Syrian civilians.

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Download this Press Release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Since its creation, Yazda has received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Update Hasna A. Case: Dutch Court Upholds Crimes Against Humanity Conviction for Crimes Against Yazidi Survivor

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:16:45 GMT

Update Hasna A. Case: Dutch Court Upholds Crimes Against Humanity Conviction for Crimes Against Yazidi Survivor

Date: 25 March 2026

The Hague, Netherlands – Today, the International Crimes Division of the Court of Appeal of the Hague delivered its verdict in the Hasna A. case, following substantive hearings held from 9 to 11 February 2026. The verdict hearing was publicly livestreamed in Kurdish Kurmanji and Dutch. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction for crimes against humanity and related charges, and sentenced Hasna A. to 9 years’ imprisonment.

In first instance, the substantive hearings in Hasna A.’s trial were held before the International Crimes Division of the District Court of The Hague in October 2024, which handed down its judgment on 11 December 2024.

The substantive hearings for the appellate proceedings took place in February 2026 and were concluded with today’s judgment, in which Hasna A. was sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment for:

1) Enslavement as crime against humanity of a Yazidi woman (Z.)

2) Membership of a terrorist organization (ISIL);

3) Preparation and promotion of terrorist crimes by ISIL; and

4) Child endangerment for keeping her underage child, whom she had brought with her to Syria in 2015, in a war zone.

The deadline for a cassation appeal is 2 weeks. The press release published by the Court of Appeal is already available , while the judgment itself will be published online in due course.

In first instance, Hasna A. was also prosecuted for slavery of a second Yazidi woman (S.), but was unfortunately acquitted of that charge for lack of evidence. For similar reasons, the Public Prosecutor’s Office decided not to pursue the second slavery charges on appeal.

Throughout the proceedings in both instances, the Dutch courts provided a secure and semi-public livestream with audio in Dutch and Kurdish Kurmanji, enabling Yazda to organize screenings at its offices in Duhok and Sinjar in December 2024 and February 2026 . This allowed over 80 Yazidi survivors of ISIL captivity to follow the hearings in a safe, trauma-informed environment.

In light of strong public interest, today’s hearing was livestreamed through a fully public livestream link, accessible via the court’s website.

Survivor Z., who participated in the proceedings as victim, injured party, and witness to the facts, was accompanied by Yazda and supported throughout today’s verdict hearing.

Z. commented: “Today’s judgment holds great significance for us. We felt that justice has finally been achieved, restoring our sense of fairness and dignity, despite the fact that I never believed we would one day be able to accomplish this. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Kingdom of the Netherlands for granting us the opportunity to obtain justice that was not available in my country of origin, Iraq.”

Brechtje Vossenberg, Z.’s legal representative, commented: “Today, the Court of Appeal not only confirmed the specific role that Hasna A. played in the slavery of Z. and the great impact it had on my client. It also confirmed key facts about the horrific context in which that slavery was committed: ISIL’s 2014-attack on the Yazidi-population and the complex of international crimes it committed in pursuit of its criminal ideology. For my client, this case has always been about the establishment of the truth and about obtaining justice, two things in which her testimony played a decisive role in this trial. This judgment builds on the growing universal jurisdiction case law about international crimes committed against Yazidi’s by ISIL and sends an important signal to both survivors and perpetrators of international crimes alike. On a more personal level, I’m simply very happy for Z. that the appeals proceedings have come to a close and that she was able to see (via the livestream!) justice delivered here today.”

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, commented: “The way Dutch courts made this proceeding accessible to the broader public, including survivors, is truly groundbreaking and a first in a Yazidi-related case. It reminds us that for justice to be meaningful, it must not only be done but also be seen. We hope other jurisdictions will follow this example.”

This case marks a significant milestone in the Netherlands, with Hasna A. becoming the first person in the country to be convicted for crimes committed against the Yazidi community. Alongside a recent genocide conviction in France , it signals growing momentum across Europe to ensure accountability for ISIL crimes.

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Download this Press Release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

Read the Op-Ed by our Executive Director on this topic here .

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda: Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Since its creation, Yazda has received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Sabri Essid Trial Updates – Day 1 to Day 5

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:45:54 GMT

From March 17 to March 21, 2026, the Paris Criminal Court heard five days of proceedings in the case against Sabri Essid, a French ISIL member charged with genocide and crimes against humanity against Yazidi women and children.

The following provides a day-by-day updates of the key testimonies, evidence, and legal developments presented during the trial.

Sabri Essid Trial Update – Day 1

17th March 2026

Trial opens against Sabri Essid, French ISIL member charged with genocide and crimes against humanity against Yazidi women and children.

The presiding judge opened with a detailed contextual report on the Yazidi religion, retraced the 2014 ISIL attack on Sinjar and the unfolding genocide, as well as its physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences on the community to this day.

He detailed the systematic kidnapping and separation of women and girls who were distributed and sold among ISIL members and subjected to domestic and sexual slavery. Men were forced to choose between conversion or being killed. “Convert or die.”

“I’m still alive, but I’m dead inside.” An investigator from the French Central Office for the Prevention of Violence Against Persons relayed the testimony of two witnesses and their children about the horrors they endured during their captivity, held by Sabri Essid and several other ISIL members.

Their extraordinary courage to testify during the investigation eventually led to the identification of Sabri Essid, and made this trial possible. A map produced by Yazda was projected to show the locations of mass graves in Sinjar, and several Yazda reports have been filed in the case. The investigative judges also relied on reports from NGOs and international organizations including UN entities such as UNITAD and IIIM.

A witness from French domestic security services detailed Sabri Essid’s radicalization and departure to Syria. He first went to Syria in 2006 and made several trips back and forth over the years. His network included several known Salafists and radical Islamists in France, among them Mohamed Merah, who carried out the 2012 Toulouse attacks, and the two Clain brothers, one of whom is known as “the voice of ISIL”.

“Sabri Essid was no ordinary figure.” Witness of the French domestic security services on Sabri Essid’s role in ISIL’s security apparatus, also called Amni. Sabri Essid has been identified as particularly violent towards his captives, who reported daily rapes, corporal punishment for non-obedience, and deprivation of food and water.

According to the French domestic security services, there exists no certainty about either the date or the circumstances of his death. Multiple contradictory versions of Sabri Essid’s presumed death circulated within ISIL, some saying he was killed in conflict, others relating he stepped on a landmine. The Prosecutor, for her part, pointed out that, as a matter of fact, Sabri Essid’s death is far from certain.

Sabri Essid Trial Update – Day 2

18th March 2026

During the second day of the trial, Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director of Yazda, testified at the Court, highlighting: “The genocide has deeply fractured the Yazidi community: families have been shattered and dispersed across the globe, and our religion, culture, and language are under threat. Achieving justice including by safeguarding Yazidi cultural and religious identity is a moral imperative. If we fail, the Yazidi identity could disappear within a few generations, and ISIL will have achieved its goal.”

The day started with the testimony of Bazhad Farhan on behalf of the association Kinyat, which contributed to the documentation of ISIL crimes since the beginning of the genocide. With maps, he explained how ISIL’s attack unfolded from Tal Afar to Sinjar. He also focused on the key role occupied by social media in the sale and resale of Yazidi slaves, and how prices were higher for little girls. He also noted that, according to victims’ testimonies, foreign fighters were often the most violent.

The court then heard from three experts who have documented the systematic nature of ISIL crimes, with a focus on the highly organized system of slave trade, which was at the core of ISIL’s apparatus.

“I have never met Yazidis who had been captured, who had not been subjected to violence” – Sareta Ashraph, Barrister specialized in international criminal law.

“The purpose of the propaganda materials used was to justify the reduction of the Yazidis to slavery” – Rosalind Sipos, lawyer at the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM).

“Documentary evidence clearly shows that Daesh’s policy aimed to destroy the Yazidi population in whole or in part” – Stephanie Barbour, investigator at the Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA)

Sabri Essid Trial Update – Day 3

19th March 2026

Trial against Sabri Essid, French ISIL member, charged with genocide and crimes against humanity against Yazidi women and children continues with the testimonies of additional parties.

The hearings started with the testimonies of two former female ISIL members. The first one was heard behind closed doors without the public. The second person heard was Leila Ouadi, Sabri Essid’s former wife. She was questioned about Essid’s activities within ISIL. She recounted his violent behavior and how he forced her son to execute an Israeli hostage for a propaganda video. She acknowledged having been aware of the genocide committed against the Yazidi people as well as the attacks on Sinjar, the massacre of the men, and the capture and enslavement of the women and children. She explained that within ISIL, the Yazidis were referred to as “devil worshippers.”

In the afternoon, Pari Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Free Yazidi Foundation (FYF), testified about the physical and psychological harm that Yazidi women and children have endured, and some continue to endure. Harm that, for many, will last a lifetime. Ibrahim also highlighted the suffering of Yazidi children, whose unique trauma is often overlooked and compounded by the loss of years of education and the opportunity to develop their identities.

“Behind each number, there is a name, a face, an identity, a story.” – Pari Ibrahim, Free Yazidi Foundation. The day concluded with the reading of statements from one of the survivors who participated in the investigation but has withdrawn from the proceedings. Together with another survivor, she was kept by Essid in an ISIL detention center in Mayadeen in particularly harrowing living conditions and a total lack of medical care when it was needed. He raped both several times and forced them to take the contraceptive pill.

“ My body is a wreck, but thankfully I have my children” – a Yazidi survivor

Sabri Essid Trial Update – Day 4

20th March 2026

The hearing started with one survivor bravely taking the stand to tell her story. She described her capture by ISIL, and how she was then sold to eight members. She recounted having been raped, including by Sabri Essid, sometimes in front of her daughter. She explained that her life is destroyed, but that she is holding on for her daughter’s sake. “As the President of this court, I have been confronted to testimonies of the most horrific crimes. But what you have told me today, I have never heard it before.” - President of the Court

Another survivor then courageously stood before the court to relate the horrors ISIL has inflicted on her and her children. She was transferred by Sabri Essid with her children from one of her captors to an ISIL woman, Lina Ishaq who enslaved them five months. The same survivor testified against Lina Ishaq in Sweden which led to her conviction for genocide and crimes humanity in 2025 for enslaving Yazidi women and children. “I would have preferred to be killed rather than raped.” - She testified.

In the afternoon, the son of a survivor who contributed to the investigation came forward, and the President used his discretionary power to allow him to be heard. As one of the few survivors of the mass graves in Kocho, he gave a chilling account of ISIL’s attack on his village and the separation from his family. He also highlighted how he had to work for years to “buy” back his mother and sister and free them from captivity. “Those who took part in this genocide are a great danger to humanity.” - He testified.

Finally, the lawyers of the civil parties made their final pleadings. They underlined ISIL’s intention to destroy the Yazidi community and demonstrated that the enslavement of Yazidi women and children by Sabri Essid was committed to attain this goal. “This trial is an opportunity to go beyond the process itself and to make the pain of the Yazidi people known.” - Patrick Baudouin, lawyer of the FIDH and LDH

“In light of the magnitude of the crimes, this trial in France is imperfect and partial justice but it is the only available space for Yazidi survivors.” - Clémence Bectarte, lawyer of the Yazidi survivors in this case

Yazda’s lawyers underlined the widespread, and particularly systematic nature of the attack, demonstrating that it was premeditated and had been prepared for several months. Further, they explained that the genocide is still ongoing, and that survivors are left with a constant sense of insecurity and fear.

The fact that the enslavement and sexual enslavement of Yazidi women and girls, as well as the indoctrination of Yazidi boys, continue to this day demonstrates the difficulties involved in bringing the genocide to a definitive end and providing effective protection to the victims. - Justine Vinet, lawyer for Yazda

The Yazidi community stands out for its solidarity and resilience. Its members have spoken out, and continue to do so, despite their fear and the pain that resurfaces with every word. Not by choice but to carry the memory of those who can no longer do so. - Marie Lehmon, lawyer for Yazda

Sabri Essid Trial Update – Day 5

21st March 2026

Trial against Sabri Essid, French ISIL member, charged with genocide and crimes against humanity against Yazidi women and children concludes with the closing arguments of the Attorney General and the announcement of the verdict.

Attorney General Sophie Havard called for Sabri Essid’s conviction for genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity, and complicity in crimes against humanity, and requested a sentence of life imprisonment. She noted the singular nature of the genocide against the Yazidis and recalled that this court is the first French jurisdiction to rule on the crimes committed by ISIL against the Yazidis. “The Yazidi women and children were property, of which Sabri Essid and the other members of ISIL disposed freely.” - Attorney General Sophie Havard

In the afternoon, the presiding Judge pronounced the verdict and found Sabri Essid guilty on all charges. A press release on the decision can be found on Yazda’s website. “The decision of the Paris Criminal Court marks a crucial step in the fight against impunity for ISIL fighters, whose crimes should not only be prosecuted under terrorism charges but also as international crimes – including genocide – against civilians and ethnic and religious communities.” - Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director of Yazda

French ISIS member Sabri Essid convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity against Yazidis

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 20:09:12 GMT

French ISIS member Sabri Essid convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity against Yazidis

The in absentia trial of Sabri Essid (alias Abou Dojanah al-Faransi), a French jihadist and former high-official of the Islamic State (ISIS), concluded on 20 March 2026. The Paris Criminal Court found him guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity, and complicity in these crimes, committed against Yazidi women and their children, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Paris, 20 March 2026. For the first time, a French national has been convicted of genocide. This is also the first time that a French court has issued a judgement relating to the atrocities committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community. French ISIS member Sabri Essid was found guilty of committing, between August 2014 and throughout 2016, genocide and crimes against humanity against two Yazidi women and children in Syria. He was also convicted of complicity in these crimes for having participated in the transfer of an enslaved woman and her children in 2015.

“Nearly 12 years after the genocide began, the Paris Criminal Court’s decision is a decisive acknowledgment by French justice of the atrocities committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community. It establishes Sabri Essid’s responsibility in the crimes suffered by the survivors who testified with courage and dignity throughout the investigation and the trial”, said Bahzad Farhan, President of Kinyat .

“This verdict was achieved through the courage and determination of the Yazidi survivors, who attach great value to this first conviction of a French ISIS member for genocide and crimes against humanity.”, said Clémence Bectarte, lawyer of the civil parties.

From a legal perspective, this decision establishes two key findings: on the one hand, it formally acknowledges that the Islamic State acted pursuant to a concerted plan, demonstrating that the organisation meticulously orchestrated its persecution campaign against the Yazidis, even before the attack on Mount Sinjar in August 2014. On the other hand, the judgement establishes that Sabri Essid not only committed acts of genocide as a direct perpetrator, including serious bodily or mental harm constituting genocide, as well as acts of enslavement, imprisonment, torture, rape, persecution and other inhuman acts constituting crimes against humanity against Yazidi women and their children, but can also be considered liable as an accomplice for his participation in the transfer of a Yazidi survivor and her family from one site of enslavement to another.

In 2019, based on information provided by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Kinyat, along with testimonies of Yazidi survivors, French authorities identified Sabri Essid and six of his victims, leading to the opening of a judicial investigation. Five years later, in 2024, the investigating judges ordered that Sabri Essid be sent to trial before the Criminal Court. FIDH, Kinyat, the Free Yezidi Foundation (FYF), Yazda and the Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) joined the case as civil parties, alongside three Yazidi victims and their eight children.

“The decision of the Paris Criminal Court marks a crucial step in the fight against impunity for ISIS fighters, whose crimes should not only be prosecuted under terrorism charges but also as international crimes – including genocide – against civilians and ethnic and religious communities” said Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director of Yazda.

Sabri Essid is presumed to have died in Syria in 2018. However, given the uncertainties surrounding the circumstances and the veracity of his death, the Court decided to try him in abstentia. This judgement ensures that he can be arrested and imprisoned if he were to reappear in the future. Sabri Essid would also be entitled to request a retrial.

“While these judgments are crucial, justice and accountability for crimes committed by ISIS cannot overshadow the ongoing challenges faced by the Yazidi community in Iraq, who continue to live under severe psychological stress and security threats,” said Pari Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Free Yezidi Foundation (FYF) . “The resurgence of ISIS in the region remains a significant danger to the community’s future”.

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Download the press release here .

For an Arabic version of the press release, please click here .

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda: Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Yazda Testifies at the Paris Assize Court in France’s First Yazidi Genocide Trial

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:05:44 GMT

Yazda Testifies at the Paris Assize Court in France’s First Yazidi Genocide Trial

Date: 19 March 2026

Paris, France – On 17 March, Yazda’s Executive Director, Natia Navrouzov, testified before the Paris Assize Court in the trial of Sabri Essid, the first case in France addressing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidi community.

This landmark trial marks a moment of profound significance for the Yazidi people and represents a critical step toward justice and accountability.

Speaking both as Yazda’s Executive Director and as a member of the Yazidi community, Navrouzov recalled how Yazidis have grown up with a collective memory of repeated persecution and genocide, shaping her lifelong commitment to justice. Drawing on her personal and professional experience, she outlined the origins and evolution of the genocide.

She recalled that more than 5,000 Yazidi men and elderly women were executed, while approximately 6,800 women and children were abducted. Tens of thousands fled to Mount Sinjar, where they were trapped without food or water in extreme heat. She also stressed that Yazidis were not only victims, but also resisted, with hundreds remaining on Mount Sinjar to fight ISIL until the area was retaken.

Navrouzov noted that Yazda was founded just three weeks after the attacks and has since provided sustained humanitarian support to Yazidis, both in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and in Sinjar.

She further highlighted Yazda’s extensive documentation efforts since 2015, launched to prevent the loss of evidence and denial of the genocide. These efforts have resulted in an archive comprising thousands of survivor testimonies and evidence from more than 170 crime sites, including mass graves, execution sites, and destroyed cultural heritage locations. This body of evidence has been instrumental in producing reports submitted during the trial and in assisting authorities in multiple countries to identify key survivors and witnesses.

Navrouzov emphasized that Yazda’s work has already contributed to concrete judicial outcomes, including cases in Germany that led to the first convictions for genocide against Yazidis and helped pave the way for prosecutions across Europe.

She also stressed that the genocide’s consequences continue today. More than 2,500 Yazidis remain missing, mass graves are still being exhumed, remains are being identified, and approximately 150,000 Yazidis continue to live in displacement camps, while Sinjar remains unstable and largely destroyed.

Navrouzov further emphasized that the genocide has produced both visible and less visible forms of prejudice and marginalization against the Yazidi community.

Addressing the court, she stated:

“The genocide has deeply fractured the Yazidi community: families have been shattered and dispersed across the globe, and our religion, culture, and language are under threat. Achieving justice including by safeguarding Yazidi cultural and religious identity is a moral imperative. If we fail, the Yazidi identity could disappear within a few generations, and ISIL will have achieved its goal.”

She concluded by honoring the courage of the women and children involved in the case. She noted that Yazidi women, particularly widows, continue to endure profound psychological, physical, and economic hardship. Yet despite these challenges, they remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice for themselves and their community.

Turning to the children, she stressed that they are among the most overlooked victims of the genocide, having been subjected to abduction, indoctrination, and violence. She called for their needs and voices to be fully integrated into both humanitarian and judicial responses to ensure they are not forgotten.

The trial is scheduled to conclude on 20 March, with a verdict expected the same day.

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Download the press release here.

For an Arabic version of the press release, please click here .

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

First Trial on Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity Committed Against Yazidis Opens in France

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:09:38 GMT

First Trial on Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity Committed Against Yazidis Opens in France

Date: 16 March 2026

Paris, France: Today, the trial against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) member Sabri Essid begins before the Paris Assize Court. Essidwill be tried in absentia meaning the trial will proceed without the presence of the accused, who is presumed to be dead. He faces charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and complicity of these crimes against Yazidi women and children between 2014 and 2016.

This is a landmark case, as it is the first time France prosecutes an individual for genocide and crimes against humanity against members of the Yazidi community, following similar trials held in Germany , Netherlands , Sweden, Kosovo and Belgium. According to monitoring done by Yazda, France therefore becomes the 6th country to prosecute an ISIL members for international crimes.

The French native from Toulouse travelled to Syria in early 2014 to join ISIL, where he adopted the kunya ( nom de guerre) Abu Dojanah al-Faransi. Since his departure, Essid has never returned, and is presumed dead since February 2018.

Essid was placed under formal investigation in 2019 for genocide, and the crimes against humanity of slavery, deprivation of liberty, torture, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts. He is accused of having enslaved several Yazidi women and their children with some of them having told of repeated and brutal rapes, as well as no access to food and water and basic care while in captivity.

Two survivors participate as civil parties in the trial and will courageously testify about their gruelling ordeal under Sabri Essid.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, commented: 

“This historic trial is of profound importance to the Yazidi community. It sends a clear message that the crimes committed against the Yazidis will not be forgotten and that countries such as France recognise the enslavement and systematic abuse of Yazidi women and girls as acts of genocide. Yazda honours the extraordinary courage of the survivors who have chosen to participate in these proceedings and share their testimonies so that those responsible may finally be held accountable. We also commend the French authorities for taking this important step toward justice and for affirming that perpetrators of genocide will not escape accountability.”

Yazda's lawyers, Emmanuel Daoud, Justine Vinet and Marie Lehmon of Vigo commented:

“We acknowledge the significance of this first trial for genocide and crimes against humanity brought before French courts for the Yazidi community. It represents a further step in the fight against impunity of the crimes committed by ISIL against the members of the Yazidi community. The firm is honored to be working alongside Yazda, which has been fighting for the recognition of the rights of genocide victims for over a decade.”

Yazda will participate in the legal proceedings as civil party and will monitor the trial daily to keep the community informed of any developments, reiterating its commitment to seeking justice for the Yazidi community and all victims of ISIL.

The trial, which is public, is scheduled to take place at the Paris Assize Court from 16 to 19 March. The verdict will be handed down on 20 March.

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Download the press release here.

For an Arabic version of the press release, please click here .

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:26:13 GMT

Yazda formalizes partnership with eyeWitness to Atrocities to strengthen documentation of ISIL crimes

On 3 March 2026, Yazda and eyeWitness to Atrocities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalizing cooperation to strengthen Yazda’s secure and ethical documentation of human rights violations that can amount to core international crimes.

eyeWitness to Atrocities combines law and technology to promote accountability for serious international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture. Established under the auspices of the International Bar Association, the organization provides a camera app that captures verifiable photos, videos, and audio with embedded metadata so the footage can be used in investigations and court proceedings.

Yazda is a global Yazidi-led, survivor-centered organization dedicated to protecting the rights of the Yazidi community and supporting survivors of atrocities committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Established in 2014 following the Yazidi genocide in Iraq, Yazda works across justice and accountability, advocacy, humanitarian assistance, and community recovery, including supporting the documentation and prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed against Yazidis. The MoU establishes a framework for the use by Yazda of the eyeWitness app when documenting ISIL crimes. Under the agreement, eyeWitness will provide technical training, secure storage, metadata verification, and strategic guidance to support Yazda’s accountability efforts. Yazda’s collected data will, in return, be jointly analyzed and submitted to relevant national and international mechanisms to support investigations and accountability efforts for international crimes.

This partnership marks an important step in strengthening survivor-centered documentation and accountability efforts for the crimes committed against the Yazidi community. By combining Yazda’s field expertise with eyeWitness to Atrocities’ technology and legal framework, the collaboration aims to ensure that evidence of international crimes is preserved and can support future justice processes.

#Yazda #eyeWitnesstoAtrocities #Documentation #YazidiGenocide

Happy International Women's Day!

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 13:49:15 GMT

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

March 8, 2026

On this International Women’s Day, we honor the strength, resilience, and leadership of women everywhere, women who raise their voices, defend their rights, and lift their communities with courage and compassion.

Throughout history, Yazidi women have faced unimaginable violence, displacement, and persecution. Yet in every chapter of struggle, they have stood side by side with men to defend their communities with extraordinary bravery and resilience. The mothers rebuilding their families, the leaders advocating for justice and dignity, and in many instances, they have taken up arms alongside men to defend their communities, land, and faith. Lastly, in the face of the 2014 genocide, when Yazidi women stood tall and head raised, refusing to be silenced. Their courage continues to inspire us today.

Since 2014 , Yazda has worked alongside the Yazidi community to document crimes, support survivors, advocate for justice, and amplify the voices of those affected. Through these efforts, Yazda continues to push for accountability and recognition of the crimes committed against the Yazidi community.

At Yazda, we honor the courage of Yazidi women and stand in solidarity with women everywhere who continue to fight for justice, dignity, and equality.

When women rise, communities rise.

#InternationalWomensDay #IWD2026 #YazidiWomen #JusticeForYazidis #SurvivorJustice #EndImpunity

France: French ISIS foreign fighter Sabri Essid to be tried for crimes against humanity and genocide against the Yazidis

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:30:01 GMT

France: French ISIS foreign fighter Sabri Essid to be tried for crimes against humanity and genocide against the Yazidis

The in absentia trial of Sabri Essid, a French ISIS foreign fighter, will take place from 16 to 20 March 2026 before the Paris Criminal Court.
It will be the first trial in France relating to the genocide committed against the Yazidis, and the first time a French citizen is tried for this offense.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Kinyat, the Free Yezidi Foundation (FYF), Yazda, and the Ligue des droits de l’Homme (LDH) will participate in the trial as civil parties, alongside three Yazidi survivors and their children.

Paris, 4 March 2026 . Sabri Essid, also known as Abou Dojanah al-Faransi, was a central figure in the French jihadist movement. He is accused of having committed, between August 2014 and throughout 2016, serious bodily or mental harm constituting genocide, as well as acts of enslavement, imprisonment, torture, rape, persecution and other inhuman acts constituting crimes against humanity, and of complicity in these crimes, against Yazidi women and children in Syria. He will be tried in absentia before the Paris Criminal Court from 16 to 20 March 2026. Three Yazidi survivors and their children will act as civil parties during the trial, alongside FIDH, Kinyat, FYF, Yazda and the LDH.

“This trial is the result of the courage and determination of Yazidi survivors who have fought to ensure that the genocide they have suffered is recognized, and that its perpetrators are brought to justice.”, said Clémence Bectarte, lawyer of the civil parties and coordinator of FIDH’s Litigation Action Group.

This case marks a historic milestone as it is the first trial before French courts concerning the crimes committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community, and the first time a French citizen is being tried on charges of genocide

“Beyond the individual sufferings of the survivors that will participate in the trial, this is a fight for the dignity and justice of the entire Yazidi community. It is also an opportunity to remind the international community of the suffering endured by the Yazidis at the hands of ISIS, while the fate of some 2,500 abductees remains unknown.” said Bahzad Farhan, President of Kinyat.

A case built through years of investigation

In August 2014, ISIS attacked Mount Sinjar, the homeland of the Yazidi community, forcing hundreds of thousands of Yazidis to flee to neighboring areas. Between 70,000 and 80,000 Yazidis sought refuge in the mountains, where they were besieged for several days; more than 1,700 of them died from hunger, dehydration and untreated injuries, 93% of whom were children. This assault marked the beginning of a genocidal campaign characterized by mass killings, forced conversions, sexual violence and the enslavement of women and children, systematically orchestrated and openly publicized by ISIS.

In December 2016, the French Prosecutor’s Office opened a so-called “structural” preliminary investigation aimed at establishing crimes committed by ISIS fighters against the Yazidis and other ethnic or religious minorities, and at identifying potential French perpetrators.

In order to collect testimonies from Yazidi survivors, FIDH and Kinyat conducted a documentation mission in Iraq in 2017 and published the report “Sexual and gender-based crimes against the Yazidi Community: the role of ISIL foreign fighters”.

In 2019, based on information provided by FIDH and Kinyat, as well as on the testimonies of Yazidi survivors, French authorities identified Sabri Essid and opened a judicial investigation. During the course of the investigation, which lasted five years, five Yazidi survivors, as well as their children, were identified as victims of Sabri Essid,. On 8 October 2024, the investigating judges ordered that Sabri Essid be sent to trial before the Criminal Court.

“ This trial is a unique opportunity for survivors’ voices to be heard and to expose the scale and systematic nature of the sexual crimes committed by ISIS fighters against Yazidi women and children,” said Pari Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Free Yezidi Foundation.

“For the Yazidi community, this trial marks an important step toward access to justice and reflects France’s growing engagement in prosecuting ISIL’s international crimes. However, in light of the scale of atrocities committed against the Yazidi community, the limited number of cases brought worldwide remains insufficient. States must adopt more coordinated and forward-looking strategies to ensure accountability, particularly in a context where instability in Syria continues to pose risks of ISIL members evading justice,” said Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director of Yazda.

Sabri Essid is presumed dead in Syria. However, in the absence of evidence certifying his death, French courts have jurisdiction to try him.

“In the absence of conclusive evidence of his death, French law allows to hold a trial in absentia – a procedure frequently applied in terrorism cases,” said Patrick Baudoin, lawyer of the LDH. “ Given that, in the past, ISIS fighters previously thought dead have later resurfaced, it is essential that this trial proceed ”.

The hearings will start on 16 March 2026 at the Paris Court of Appeal (8, Boulevard du Palais, 75001 Paris) and will be public. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

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Download this Press Release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

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About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Advancing Justice: Yazda’s Role in the Landmark Taha A. J. Genocide Trial

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:37:24 GMT

Advancing Justice: Yazda’s Role in the Landmark Taha A. J. Genocide Trial

In a recent publication, Amnesty International examined the Taha A.J. case in Germany, the first-ever genocide trial and conviction of an ISIL member for crimes against Yazidis.

In an in-depth interview, our Executive Director, Natia Navrouzov, reflects on how Yazda’s early documentation work (launched in 2015) played a direct role in identifying and locating the survivor whose testimony was central to the case, facilitating contact with German authorities, and ensuring she received holistic support throughout the proceedings. Yazda also worked closely with the survivor’s legal representatives, including Amal Clooney and Natalie von Wistinghausen, as well as with authorities to bridge gaps between the justice system and the Yazidi community. Additionally, two Yazda caseworkers testified in court regarding the documentation process and Yazda’s work.

The interview also highlights key lessons from the trial: the issue of interpretation, the importance of survivor-centred outreach, culturally informed proceedings, proper communication with affected communities, and the need to fully capture the gender dimension of the genocide in legal charges. It further reflects on ongoing accountability efforts and challenges following the closure of UNITAD. It ultimately underscores the importance of NGOs’ early documentation efforts to preserve survivor testimonies, mass grave evidence, and records of ISIL’s systematic crimes. This long-term investment in documentation proved critical in supporting other universal jurisdiction cases in Germany and beyond.

As Natia Navrouzov states in the interview:

“Justice is not a single verdict. It is a long-term commitment to survivors, to truth, and to accountability.”

Read the full interview and Amnesty International’s report on the Taha A. J. case here .

Eleven years after the genocide, the people of Sinjar continue to face immense challenges.

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 14:05:26 GMT

Yazda had the honor of welcoming H.E. Mr. Glenn Miles, the Australian Embassy, Iraq, on his first official visit to Sinjar.

This visit comes as part of ongoing efforts to highlight the current situation in Sinjar, eleven years after the genocide, and to explore ways to strengthen international cooperation in support of justice, recovery, and sustainable development in the region.

During the meeting, several key issues were discussed, including:

��The situation in Sinjar eleven years after the genocide and the ongoing challenges preventing Yazidis from safely and sustainably returning to their areas of origin.

��Asylum and migration processes for Yazidis in Australia, and possible ways to strengthen coordination and expedite support for pending cases. Yazda extended its deep appreciation to the Government and people of Australia for welcoming Yazidi survivors and families, and emphasized the importance of continuing this vital support for those still seeking protection.

��Potential avenues for Australian support to future DNA collection campaigns among Yazidi refugees residing in Australia, to assist in the identification of remains exhumed from mass graves.

��Ongoing efforts to achieve justice for survivors and Yazda’s role in documentation, advocacy, and the provision of legal and psychosocial support.

Yazda expressed its deep appreciation to the Government and people of Australia for their warm welcome and steadfast humanitarian support to Yazidi survivors and their families, underscoring the critical importance of continuing this life-saving assistance for those still seeking safety and stability.

As a key partner in this effort, Yazda is proud of its pivotal role in facilitating the resettlement process in close cooperation with the Australian Government—support that has enabled the relocation of more than 2,700 Yazidis to Australia since 2015, offering survivors a chance to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

From the Netherlands to Sinjar and Duhok: Yazidi Survivors Follow the Landmark Hasna A. Appeal Hearings

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:06:51 GMT

From the Netherlands to Sinjar and Duhok: Yazidi Survivors Follow the Landmark Hasna A. Appeal Hearings

Date: 12 February 2026

On February 9th, Yazda livestreamed the appeal hearings in the Hasna A. case, held in the Netherlands from 9 to 12 February 2026, at in its offices in Sinjar and Duhok. The screenings allowed a group of 38 Yazidi women and men who survived ISIL captivity to follow the proceedings in a secure and trauma-informed setting.

In December 2024, Hasna A. became the first person in the Netherlands to be convicted for crimes committed against the Yazidi community, including slavery as a crime against humanity related to the enslavement of a Yazidi woman. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The appeal hearings allow a higher court to review the initial judgment.

For survivors, engaging in this process, even as observers, is about far more than witnessing a legal process. It is about acknowledgement of the crimes committed against them, accountability, and a clear message that there is no safe haven for perpetrators of serious crimes.

Following the hearings, even when meaningful, can be emotionally taxing. This is why Yazda provides background on the case, psychological support, language access, and carefully prepared spaces where survivors can follow proceedings with dignity, privacy, and professional care. The aim is to ensure that justice remains survivor-centered, compassionate, and without borders.

One of the survivors from Duhok commented: “Advocacy and justice matter. Watching an ISIL member be held accountable removes pain from our hearts and it is a reminder that justice can be seen, and felt in front of your eyes.“

One of the survivors from Sinjar commented: “Trials should be available online so people around the world can see what happened to us. Transparency matters. Justice delayed and hidden is not justice, and the legal process must move faster.”

Yazda previousely organized similar screenings during the first-instance trial in December 2024. Ensuring access to universal jurisdictions cases, which are mostly taking place far from affected communities, is crucial and Yazda commends the Dutch courts for helping address this gap.

The appeal verdict will be announced at a later date and Yazda will share updates as they become available.

This activity was made possible through the general support of GIZ Iraq and Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) Germany (GFFO)

#YazidiGenocide #JusticeForSurvivors #Accountability #SurvivorCenteredJustice

Update Hasna A. case: Register to Livestream the Appeal Hearings (9-12 February 2026)

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:44:55 GMT

Update Hasna A. case: Register to Livestream the Appeal Hearings (9-12 February 2026)

Date: 26 January 2026

Netherlands: The Court of Appeal at the Schiphol Judicial Complex will review the Hasna A. case, a landmark case involving crimes against the Yazidi community. The court made its first decision in December 2024. The defense has asked for the decision to be reviewed, hence the appeal hearings are scheduled to take place from 9 to 12 February 2026.

Hasna A., a 33-year-old Dutch woman, travelled from the Netherlands to Syria in 2015 with her young son, where she married an ISIL member. She was repatriated to the Netherlands in late 2022 along with other women and children from camps in northern Syria, then arrested and charged under Dutch law.

Hasna A.'s trial began in the Hague in October 2024. On 11 December 2024, the Court of First Instance delivered its verdict , sentencing her to ten years’ imprisonment for: 1) Crimes against humanity of enslavement; 2) Membership in a terrorist organisation (ISIL); 3) Participation in and promotion of terrorist crimes; and 4) Child endangerment. The case marked a milestone, as it was the first time an individual was prosecuted and convicted in the Netherlands for crimes committed against the Yazidi community.

The forthcoming appeal hearings will be open to the public in person at the Court of Appeal at the Schiphol Judicial Complex and via livestream in Dutch with interpretation in Kurmanji.

To request access to the live stream, please send an email to info@yazda.org with the subject line “Hasna A. case Livestream”. Once registered, you will be sent a secure link that will allow you to watch the screening. If you face any issues receiving the link, you can reach out to us at the same email address.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, commented: 

“For Yazidi survivors, following justice processes can be deeply meaningful, but also emotionally difficult. By making the appeal hearing accessible, just as during the first-instance proceedings, through livestream, the Netherlands has taken an important step toward survivor-centered justice, one that for now remains rare. This access allows survivors to stay informed in ways that respect their choices and well-being. Yazda is committed to supporting survivors and affected communities to follow these proceedings safely, with language access, and with proper explanations.”

Further updates, including the outcome of the appeal, will be shared with the community in due course.

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Download this Press Release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here.

###

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

JOINT OPEN LETTER By Yazda and the Free Yezidi Foundation to the Iraqi Government, the United States, European Countries, and the United Nations

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:29:00 GMT

January 23, 2026

Joint Open Letter

By Yazda and the Free Yezidi Foundation to the Iraqi Government, the United States, European Countries and the United Nations

On the Risks to Accountability, Security, and Justice Arising from the Transfer of ISIL Detainees from Syria to Iraq

We, the undersigned organizations, write to express our deep concern regarding the transfer of ISIL detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraq at a time of heightened regional instability. According to publicly available information , 150 ISIL detainees have already been transferred, and plans are reportedly underway that could involve the transfer of up to 7,000 ISIL prisoners, including Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs). Although we recognize the complex security challenges faced by Iraq and its partners, large-scale transfers carried out without an internationally supported accountability framework risk undermining justice efforts, regional and global security, social cohesion, and long-term stability.

These transfers are taking place amid ongoing attacks by Syrian Government forces and affiliated armed groups against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that had been holding ISIL detainees for several years. The attacks are affecting detention facilities and displacement camps. This includes Al-Hol camp, which continues to host tens of thousands of individuals with alleged ISIL links and has long been recognized as a highly fragile environment with significant protection and radicalization risks.

The deteriorating security environment in northeastern Syria heightens the risk of ISIL and extremist resurgence, posing a direct threat to civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, such as Yazidis, in both Syria and Iraq.

In this context, the movement of large numbers of ISIL detainees raises legitimate concerns about safety, oversight, and Iraq’s capacity to manage, without sustained international support, a significantly increased number of ISIL prisoners while ensuring meaningful accountability. We therefore underscore the urgent need for full transparency, coordination, and international engagement throughout the process, including sustained support for the SDF, who for more than a decade have played a critical role in protecting civilians, securing detention facilities, and preventing ISIL resurgence on behalf of the international community.

Our organizations were established in direct response to ISIL’s genocide against the Yazidi community and its systematic targeting of all those who opposed or did not conform to its extremist ideology. For more than a decade, together with survivors from Yazidi, Christian, Shia Turkmen, Shabak, and other affected communities, we have consistently called for accountability that reflects the full scope and gravity of ISIL crimes.

To date, accountability efforts have remained limited. In Iraq, ISIL members have largely been prosecuted under terrorism-related charges, leaving core crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity war crimes, sexual violence, killings, torture, enslavement, forced indoctrination and militarization, and forced displacement, unaddressed in judicial proceedings. This approach has prevented the establishment of an authoritative judicial record of ISIL crimes committed against all affected communities and has excluded survivors from meaningful participation in justice processes.

Accountability for ISIL crimes is not only a legal obligation but a necessary foundation for reconciliation, sustainable peace and global security. Prosecuting ISIL members for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes is essential to reveal the systematic and multi-community nature of ISIL violence, counter denial and historical distortion, and ensure that responsibility is attributed to individual perpetrators rather than entire communities. Credible justice processes can therefore reduce grievances, prevent collective blame, strengthen trust in state institutions, and contribute to long-term stability and non-recurrence.

While we are deeply concerned by current developments, particularly the rise of extremist behaviour and targeted attacks against ethnic and religious minorities, we also recognize that this presents an important moment for Iraq to combat impunity. Iraq has taken meaningful steps toward recognition and accountability for ISIL crimes, including the adoption of a groundbreaking reparations framework, the Yazidi Survivors Law, and ongoing efforts to exhume mass graves of ISIL victims across the country. These exhumations are uncovering critical evidence of atrocities committed against multiple communities and underscore the urgent need for prosecutions that reflect the full extent of these crimes. Without corresponding judicial processes that hold perpetrators individually responsible, these efforts risk remaining incomplete and falling short of survivors’ expectations for justice and truth.

Iraq’s recent election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term and its National Action Plan on Human Rights further provide a framework for strengthened international cooperation on accountability. With coordinated international support, Iraq can transform these efforts into a comprehensive justice process that establishes the truth about ISIL crimes against all affected communities, strengthens social cohesion, and contributes to durable peace and non-recurrence.

Despite the passing of time, survivors continue to express a clear and consistent demand for justice. In a recent survey conducted by Yazda with 601 survivors, more than 98% emphasized the importance of prosecuting ISIL members for genocide and crimes against humanity, and 95% rejected any form of amnesty. These views reflect not only a desire for accountability, but for truth, recognition, and a future free from recurrence.

In light of the above, we respectfully call for the following actions:

To the Iraqi Government

Ensure full transparency and oversight regarding any transfer of ISIL detainees from Syria to Iraq, including public clarification of the number and nationality of detainees, and applicable legal safeguards, in coordination with relevant international partners and institutions.
Establish and apply rigorous vetting, screening, and classification procedures for all transferred detainees, with international technical support as needed, to assess individual criminal responsibility, distinguish between levels of involvement, identify suspects responsible for core international crimes, and ensure that those most responsible are prioritized for prosecution.
Guarantee that no form of amnesty, pardon, or early release is granted to individuals responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, and publicly reaffirm Iraq’s commitment to accountability in line with international law and survivor expectations.
Adopt comprehensive legislation incorporating genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes into national law, ensuring that ISIL crimes are prosecuted in their full scope and that judicial proceedings contribute to truth-telling, reconciliation, and social cohesion. In this regard, the existing draft law prepared by the Committee on International Humanitarian Law linked to the Prime Minister’s Office should be formally transmitted to Parliament for discussion and adoption as a matter of priority.
In parallel with domestic efforts, explore complementary international accountability pathways, including cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). This could include lodging a declaration under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute to accept the Court’s jurisdiction, and referring at least one high-level ISIL member for prosecution, thereby providing an international judicial platform that would draw global attention to ISIL crimes, reinforce the rule of law, and contribute to countering radicalization by publicly exposing and condemning the group’s atrocities.

To States

Provide sustained support to the SDF and relevant civilian authorities responsible for securing ISIL detention facilities and displacement camps in northeastern Syria, while prioritizing the protection of civilians and preventing actions that risk destabilizing these facilities, enabling escapes, or contributing to renewed ISIL and extremist activity.
Provide sustained, predictable, and coordinated legal, technical, financial, and political support to Iraq, including support for judicial reform, specialized war crimes units, forensic and investigative capacity, detention management, and witness and survivor protection, to ensure fair trials that meet international standards.
Support transparency and accountability mechanisms related to detainee transfers, including monitoring arrangements and information-sharing frameworks, and continue to support partners responsible for securing detention facilities and protecting civilians from ISIL and extremist threats.
Repatriate their nationals detained in Syria or Iraq without delay and investigate and prosecute them for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and related offenses, or actively pursue cases under universal jurisdiction, thereby sharing responsibility for accountability and reducing pressure on Iraq’s detention and judicial systems.

To the United Nations

Support transparent, coordinated, and rights-respecting transfer processes, including by facilitating information-sharing, technical assistance, and international oversight where appropriate, to ensure that transfers contribute to accountability rather than impunity.
Ensure timely, transparent, and survivor-centered access to evidence collected by the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/ISIL (UNITAD), so that national and international courts can effectively pursue accountability and establish a comprehensive historical record of ISIL crimes.
Enhance coordination among relevant UN entities to support Iraq in managing the legal, security, and human rights implications of detainee transfers, with a focus on non-recurrence, social cohesion, and the protection of affected communities.

We remain committed to constructive engagement with all stakeholders. Without coordinated, transparent, and survivor-centered action, the transfer of ISIL detainees risks repeating past failures and undermining prospects for justice, reconciliation, and peace. We therefore urge all concerned actors to act collectively and decisively to ensure that accountability for ISIL crimes against all affected communities is finally realized.

Yazda Free Yezidi Foundation

Download this joint letter in English here.

Download this Joint Letter in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact:

info@yazda.org

About Yazda: 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

French Prosecutors Seek Genocide Trial Against Lolita C. for Crimes Against Yazidis

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:20:00 GMT

French Prosecutors Seek Genocide Trial Against Lolita C. for Crimes Against Yazidis

21 January 2026

On 19 January 2026, France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) requested that the case of French jihadist Lolita C. be referred to trial before the Paris special assize court (cour d’assises spéciale). She faces charges of complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity committed against members of the Yazidi community, as well as participation in a terrorist criminal association.

Lolita C. left France for Syria in 2014, where she married ISIL fighter Lakhdar S. Prosecutors allege that in 2017 she held an enslaved eight-year-old Yazidi girl for more than one month before handing her over to her “owner,” an ISIL member from Saudi Arabia. Lolita C. returned to France in 2021.

The prosecution acknowledged that the enslavement of Yazidis was intended, among other objectives, to ostracize them from their community, notably by forcing conversions to Islam and changing survivors’ names. However, the PNAT dropped several charges initially included in the indictment, including unlawful imprisonment, severe deprivation of liberty, and inhuman treatment.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, commented:

“The PNAT’s decision to refer this case to trial marks a significant step toward justice for Yazidi women and girls who were subjected to ISIL’s system of enslavement and abuse. By pursuing charges of complicity in genocide, French authorities recognize that participation in the enslavement of a Yazidi child forms part of a coordinated plan aimed at the destruction, in whole or in part, of the Yazidi community. We now call on the investigating judge to follow this request and ensure that this case proceeds to trial.”

If referred, Lolita C. would become the second French woman to appear before a French assize court for alleged involvement in the genocide against the Yazidis. In May 2025, France’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, ordered the reconsideration of genocide charges against Sonia M., a French national affiliated with ISIL accused of enslaving a Yazidi adolescent girl in her household alongside her husband, also an ISIL member. Her trial could open in the first half of 2027.

These proceedings come amid a broader moment of judicial reckoning in France for crimes committed against the Yazidis. From 16 to 20 March 2026, French national Sabri E. is scheduled to stand trial in Paris in what would be the first genocide trial ever held in France in relation to crimes committed against the Yazidi community. Sabri E., an ISIL member presumed dead, will be tried in absentia on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Yazidi women and children, marking a historic milestone for accountability and justice for Yazidi survivors

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda: 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Urgent Statement & Call for Action: ISIL Prison Escapes in Syria Expose Global Accountability Failures

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:13:02 GMT

Urgent Statement & Call for Action: ISIL Prison Escapes in Syria Expose Global Accountability Failures

20 January 2026

Yazda expresses grave concern following today’s statement from Syria’s Interior Ministry reporting the escape of at least 120 ISIL detainees from Shaddadi Prison in Hasakah province, a detention facility under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Authorities report that 81 detainees have since been recaptured.

The SDF, however, reports that the number of escapees is significantly higher - up to 1,500 individuals - following an intense attack by government-aligned fighters that caused a collapse in security and temporary loss of control of the prison, an allegation denied by the Syrian army . Those who escaped are believed to include some of ISIL’s most hardened operatives.

The breach follows further security incidents, including a coordinated attack on Raqqa’s Aqtan Prison yesterday , involving drones and heavy weapons, and followed by renewed shelling of the facility today .

These attacks occur in the context of ongoing clashes between the SDF and Syrian government forces that have escalated since late 2025 and continued into early 2026, putting at risk civilians and further destabilizing already fragile security conditions in northeastern Syria, including areas around Aleppo and Hasakah.

This instability must also be understood in the context of a longstanding failure to address accountability for ISIL crimes. ISIL controlled large parts of Syria from 2013 to March 2019, after which thousands of its members were detained in camps and prisons, largely overseen by the SDF. Despite repeated warnings from civil society organizations and survivors, the international community has failed to establish a sustainable, coordinated mechanism to prosecute ISIL suspects for international crimes, in line with international legal standards.

The recent events demonstrate that more than one year after the fall of the Assad regime, a growing security vacuum continues to expand, posing serious threats to civilians and already affected communities, particularly minority groups.

Yazda urgently calls on:

The immediate protection of civilians in Rojava and other conflict-affected areas, alongside urgent measures to de-escalate hostilities and prevent further violence.
The United Nations and the international community, particularly the United States, the European Union, Turkey, Qatar, and other states with influence in the region, to immediately ensure that all detention facilities holding ISIL members in northeastern Syria are secured and protected from the impact of ongoing hostilities. Yazda warns that the current conflict must not be used, intentionally or through security failures, to justify the release or escape of ISIL detainees without due process, as this would pose grave threats to civilians, regional stability, and international security.
Relevant UN bodies and international partners to provide urgent technical, financial and security assistance to ensure the safe and lawful management of detention facilities, in line with international human rights and humanitarian law.
The international community and the UN, in close coordination with Syria and Iraq, to immediately establish and support a coordinated, sustainable and survivor-centered accountability mechanism to prosecute ISIL members for international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, in accordance with international law. In this regard, Yazda led, within the Coalition for Just Reparations (C4JR), the publication of a position paper outlining the characteristics of a survivor-centered accountability mechanism.
States exercising universal jurisdiction to significantly scale up investigations and prosecutions. To date, only a handful of cases involving ISIL members for international crimes against Yazidi victims have been prosecuted in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium and Kosovo, failing far short of the scale and gravity of the crimes committed.
States whose nationals are detained in Syria to repatriate, investigate and prosecute them, or to establish and provide concrete support to an international or hybrid judicial mechanism capable of delivering fair trials and meaningful justice.
The United Nations to ensure full, transparent and survivor-centered access to evidence collected by the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/ISIL (UNITAD). UNITAD’s mandate was ended prematurely, despite repeated calls from survivors and affected communities not to do so. The continued inaccessibility of UNITAD’s archive to survivors, civil society organizations, and relevant judicial authorities severely undermines justice efforts and delays accountability for international crimes.
The advancement of an inclusive and survivor-centered transitional justice process in Syria as a critical foundation for accountability, reconciliation, and sustainable peace. Any meaningful transition must address past and ongoing violations through truth-seeking mechanisms, criminal accountability, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence, with the full and effective participation of survivors and affected communities.

Yazda reiterates that justice delayed is justice denied. Continued inaction, combined with inaccessible evidence, limited prosecutions, and deteriorating security conditions perpetuate impunity, deny survivors their right to justice and reparations, and increase the risk of ISIL members returning to communities and posing new threats to civilians, regional stability, and international security.

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here.

###

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda: 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Update: Lafarge trial concluded before Paris Judicial Court - Decision expected on 13 April 2026

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:29:22 GMT

Update: Lafarge trial concluded before Paris Judicial Court - Decision expected on 13 April 2026

Date: 19 December, 2025

�� Update: Lafarge trial concluded before Paris Judicial Court - Decision expected on 13 April 2026

Today marked the conclusion of the six-week trial before the Paris Judicial Court concerning Lafarge and its former executives for the financing of terrorism and violations of international sanctions.

On Tuesday, the French anti-terrorism prosecutor requested, against the 8 defendants, prison sentences ranging from 18 months to 8 years, along with fines between €4,000 and €225,000, and against the company Lafarge, a fine of €1,125,000. The last two amounts correspond to the maximum penalties for natural persons and legal persons, respectively, for financing terrorism under French law. If convictions are handed down, these fines will be paid to the French State.

The defense teams sought full acquittal, arguing in particular that their clients were unaware of the terrorist nature of Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham and ISIL between 2012 and 2014, when the payments—estimated at €4.6 million by prosecutors—were made. They also denied any criminal intent, claiming the payments resulted from extortion or security constraints, without any motive of personal enrichment.

During the proceedings, Yazda’s Executive Director, Natia Navrouzov, addressed the court to urge that the genocide of the Yazidis be given the attention it requires in this proceeding, ensuring that Yazidi voices were heard and that the tribunal fully grasped the consequences of financing terrorist groups.

Yazda's lawyers, Luke Vidal and Louis Falgas then responded to the defendants who sought to exclude Yazda from the proceedings by pointing out the temporal connectedness between the payments made by Lafarge to ISIS and the preparation and execution of the genocide against the Yazidis, with the final payments taking place even after the invasion of Sinjar had delivered them into the hands of these genocidal forces.

The presiding judge announced that the judgment will be delivered on 13 April 2026. The investigation into Lafarge’s potential involvement in crimes against humanity remains ongoing.

Yazda remains committed to the fight against impunity for the Yazidi genocide and continues to cooperate with judicial authorities to hold those responsible to account.

Yazda Brings Yazidi Voices to Paris Court in Landmark Lafarge Terrorism-Financing Trial

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:30:35 GMT

Yazda Brings Yazidi Voices to Paris Court in Landmark Lafarge Terrorism-Financing Trial

Date: 10 December 2025

Yesterday, Yazda’s Executive Director, Natia Navrouzov, addressed the Paris Judicial Court in the ongoing proceedings concerning the alleged financing of terrorism by French cement company Lafarge. She underscored the important role of civil society in these cases:

“We work with resources that are negligible compared to those of a multinational like Lafarge. Yet it is often NGOs that allow the truth to emerge: thanks to them, mass graves are identified, survivors find the courage to testify, and cases reach courts such as this one.”

Now entering its peniultimate week, the trial examines Lafarge’s and several former executives’ alleged involvement in financing terrorist groups, including ISIL, Jabhat al-Nusra, and Ahrar al-Sham. The company is accused of authorizing approximately €5 million in “security payments” between 2012 and 2014 to ensure the continued operation of its cement plant in Jalabiya, Syria.

Testimonies from former employees over recent weeks have described how Lafarge insisted on keeping the factory running despite kidnappings at checkpoints, airstrikes by regime forces, and the escalating threat from armed groups. Evidence presented in court, including internal emails and meeting notes, shows that the deteriorating security situation and the payments to terrorist groups were openly discussed within the company. Despite this, those accused claim ignorance of the groups’ terrorist nature and attempt to shift responsibility among themselves.

The case further revealed that executives of Lafarge Cement Syria continued to negotiate and deal with ISIL up until September 2014, all while the genocide against the Yazidi people was ongoing.

Speaking before the court, Natia Navrouzov stated:

“Responsibility does not stop at the gates of a factory. It follows the money, wherever it goes. Each transaction, each concession, each amount transferred strengthens an organization that, at the very same moment, was preparing and carrying out the extermination of an entire community. Financing a terrorist group is never a neutral act.”

The prosecutor Aurélie Valente of the French National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) , thanking Navrouzov for her intervention, commended Yazda’s important role not only in documenting the crimes committed against the Yazidis – without which justice could not brought against its perpetrators, but also in supporting survivors in Sinjar and beyond.

This trial closes on the 19th of December, but the verdict is not expected before a few months.

The investigation into Lafarge’s implication in aiding and abetting crimes against humanity, in which Yazda is also a Civil Party, is still ongoing.

Yazda continues to stand with the Yazidi community in the pursuit of truth, justice, and accountability for the crimes committed in Syria and Iraq

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda: 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Recent Exhumations in Iraq Reveal 42 More Victims of the Yazidi Genocide

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:58:43 GMT

Recent Exhumations in Iraq Reveal 42 More Victims of the Yazidi Genocide

Date: 4 December 2025

From 16th to 27th November 2025 , eight new mass graves containing the remains of at least 42 victims were exhumed in the districts of Sinjar and Al-Baa'j. The process was carried out by the Mass Graves and Missing Persons Directorate (MGMPD) at the Martyrs’ Foundation, and the Medical Legal Directorate (MLD) at the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP).

From 3rd of August 2014 onwards, ISIL attacked over 50 villages and collectives in Sinar, carrying out a genocidal campaign. In the first days of the attacks, thousands of people were killed and later, over 90 mass graves were discovered.

Since March 2019 and by now, 82 mass graves have been exhumed and the remains of 770 victims discovered, among which 297 have been identified and buried. The eight new mass graves were exhumed in Siba Sheikh Kheder, Tel-Yousifka, Sinjar District Center, Tel-Banat collective, Um-Shababit, and Sheikh Khenes village. The exhumation of a mass grave in Hardan was also resumed.

Additionally, the technical teams conducted an initial forensic assessment of another mass grave located in Al-Basateen neighborhood within Sinjar district center, with plans to exhume this site next year.

The efforts of the national technical teams in excavating mass graves represent an exceptional undertaking, given the high level of technical expertise required, the precision needed in handling human remains, and the strict adherence to humanitarian and legal standards. These efforts constitute a fundamental step in uncovering the fate of the missing, documenting evidence, and upholding the rights of families in truth, investigation, and justice.

Yazda’s team accompanied the national teams throughout this mission, as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting families of the victims. Since the beginning of this process, Yazda has remained consistently present in the field to help ensure that excavation efforts continue, and that families are supported in their pursuit of truth, dignity, and justice.

Yazda has documented crime scenes in Sinjar since 2015 and attended exhumation processes since 2019 to ensure the interests of the community are upheld and evidence is preserved for historical record.

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda : 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

🔴 Update | Lafarge Trial in Paris Resumes Today

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:11:30 GMT

�� Update | Lafarge Trial in Paris Resumes Today

Date: 18 November

The trial against the French industrial group Lafarge, its former directors, and various intermediaries for financing terrorism and breaching international sanctions will reopen today. An error in the date of the charges raised by the defendants has led to a suspension of the trial for almost two weeks, but it was corrected by the investigating judges and the trial can now resume.

The trial is scheduled to close on 19 December 2025 and Yazda will be present throughout the proceedings to keep the community informed of any developments. The judicial investigation on Lafarge’s implication in crimes against humanity is still ongoing.

Yazda emphasizes the importance of these historic proceedings, reiterating its commitment to seeking justice for the Yazidi community and all victims of ISIL.

Historic Verdict in Brussels: First European Man Convicted of Yazidi Genocide

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:13:48 GMT

Historic Verdict in Brussels: First European Man Convicted of Yazidi Genocide

Date: 14 November 2025

Brussels, Belgium: On 13 November 2025, the Assize Court in Brussels convicted ISIL member Sammy Djedou, known under his nom de guerre Abu Mussab Al Baljiki, of genocide and crimes against humanity. He is the first European man being convicted of these crimes. The trial was held in absentia since Djedou is presumed to have been killed in an airstrike in Raqqa in 2016. The public prosecutor stated that the crimes committed against the Yazidi victims were part of a broader intended plan to destroy the Yazidi community in whole or in part, thus amount to genocide and crimes against humanity.

The trial, which is the first of its kind in Belgium, opened on 6 November 2025 and even though Djedou is presumed dead, is of great importance to Yazidi victims and other communities that suffered under ISIL’s rule. Three Yazidi survivors who were subjected to slavery and sexual enslavement participated as civil parties, with two of them testifying. Djedou and his wife inflicted rapes, beatings and deprivations of food on the three victims between August 2014 and 2016, while at least two of the three were still minors.

This trial not only sheds light on how the genocide against the Yazidi was carried out, but also emphasizes the role of Sammy Djedou in ISIL propaganda and the spread of its ideology. He was born in the outskirts of Brussels in 1989 and left for Syria in 2012, where he married a Syrian woman. Djedou worked closely with the then ISIL spokesperson Taha Sobhi (Abu Muhammad al Adnani) and played a major role in the planning of the November 2015 Paris attacks (for which ten years were commemorated on the same day) and the 2016 Brussels.

Additionally, the case raises questions about the role of families of foreign members in crimes committed against Yazidis. The investigation confirmed that Djedou’s family in Belgium was in contact with him at the time the crimes against all the three Yazidi victims were committed. The family provided him with financial means while he stayed in Syria. Djedou’s mother, Véronique L., has faced charges on the basis of financially enabling a terrorist group to carry out crimes of an international nature. Yazda salutes the courage of the survivors and witnesses to come forward and testify about the ordeals they went through.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, stated:

“Despite the fact that thousands of European nationals joined ISIL, this is the first time, more than a decade later, that one has been convicted for genocide against Yazidis, and even then, only in absentia. It is an important step, but it also highlights how much more remains to be done. As in other landmark cases, the survivors’ courage is the driving force behind this outcome. Their willingness to testify made this verdict possible. We commend Belgium for taking this important step toward justice and urge more states to match this level of commitment.”

-END-

Download this press release here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Belgium Opens First Trial for Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity Committed Against Yazidis

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 08:28:01 GMT

Belgium Opens First Trial for Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity Committed Against Yazidis

Date: 6 November 2025

Brussels, Belgium: Today, the trial against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) member Sammy Djedou begins before the Assize Court of Brussels. Djedou, who will be tried in absentia (the trial is held without the presence of the accused), faces charges of genocide and crimes against humanity against Yazidi survivors.

This is a landmark case, as it is the first time Belgium prosecutes an individual for genocide and crimes against humanity against members of the Yazidi community, following similar trials held in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, with France expected to follow in early 2026.

The now 36-year-old Belgian travelled to Syria in 2012 to join ISIL, where he adopted the nom de guerre Abu Mousaab al-Belgiki. Since his departure, Djedou has never returned, and is presumed dead, likely killed on December 4, 2016, in a US drone strike in Raqqa, Syria.

The Federal Public Prosecutor's office opened a judicial case against Djedou on 12 October 2021, charging him with genocide, and rape and sexual slavery as crimes against humanity. In particular, Djedou is accused of having allegedly raped and sexually enslaved three Yazidi women, including minors, between 1 November 2014 and 31 December 2016. The survivors, now in their late twenties, will participate in the trial as civil parties.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, commented:

“This first in absentia trial of an ISIL member for crimes against Yazidis remains a powerful tool for justice. Many ISIL members, especially men, were killed before they could be brought to court, but accountability must not die with them.

Djedou is also the first European man charged with genocide and crimes against humanity against the Yazidis, exposing the persistent failures of European states to repatriate and prosecute their male nationals. As the situation in Syria evolves, this case shows that justice is still possible and that political inaction can no longer be an excuse. Despite the open dialogue with the new Syrian government, thousands of European nationals remain in camps in Syria. European countries must find a comprehensive solution instead of leaving the burden to Iraq and Syria, while ignoring survivors’ calls for meaningful justice.”

Yazda will monitor the legal proceedings, and will keep the community informed of any developments, reiterating its commitment to seeking justice for the Yazidi community and all victims of ISIL.

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda: 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Lafarge on Trial in France: A Landmark Case for Corporate Accountability in the Financing of Terrorism

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:40:30 GMT

Lafarge on Trial in France: A Landmark Case for Corporate Accountability in the Financing of Terrorism

Date: 4 November 2025

Paris, France - On November 4, 2025, the trial against the French industrial group Lafarge, its directors and various intermediaries will begin before the 16th criminal section of the Paris Judicial Court (Tribunal judiciaire de Paris).

Lafarge, the world’s largest cement manufacturer, and now a subsidiary of the Swiss group Holcim, will appear before court on counts of financing terrorism and breaching international sanctions. The company, as well as a number of its directors, are accused of having paid, via its Syrian subsidiary and various intermediaries, millions of euros to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as well as other jihadist groups (Jahbat Al-Nosra, Ahrar Al-Sham) to keep its cement plant in Syria operating between 2013 and September 2014.

The trial will run for six weeks, during which Yazda is seeking to participate as a civil party to ensure the voice of the Yazidi community, who suffered first-hand from ISIL’s ideology of terror in the region, is heard.

This is a landmark case in France and beyond, shedding light on the potential role of multinational corporations in enabling atrocities in conflict zones and demonstrating that they can be held accountable in court for financing terrorism. At its core lies the pursuit of corporate accountability, a principle that is all the more crucial given the gravity of the alleged human rights abuses. This trial represents a significant milestone in advancing international justice and business ethics.

Yazda will monitor the legal proceedings, and will keep the community informed of any developments, reiterating its commitment to seeking justice for the Yazidi community and all victims of ISIL.

While this first chapter of the Lafarge case dawns, Yazda continues to play its part in the remaining pending judicial investigation targeting Lafarge on charges of complicity in crimes against humanity.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda commented:

“This trial is about more than one company; it is about the global responsibility to ensure that those who financed or enabled ISIL are held accountable. For Yazda and for survivors of ISIL crimes, justice must reach not only the perpetrators of violence but also those who profited from it.”

Louis Falgas, Luke Vidal and Rachel Lindon, French counsel for Yazda added:

“Yazda’s participation to the first judicial episode of the ongoing investigations targeting Lafarge and its former directors is rooted in the idea that by financing terrorist organisations, in particular ISIL – be it by wilful negligence or motivated by corporate greed – the cement corporation logistically enabled the organization of the annihilation of the Yazidi people.”

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda: 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Remains of 22 Genocide Victims Buried in Sinjar

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:18:50 GMT

Remains of 22 Genocide Victims Buried in Sinjar

Date: 13 August 2025

On 5 August 2025, the Medico-Legal Directorate (MLD) of Iraq’s Ministry of Health announced the identification of 22 Yazidi victims killed by ISIL/Daesh during its genocidal campaign against the Yazidi community, which began on 3 August 2014. The identified victims were from the villages of Ger-Zarik, Gurmez, Hardan, Kocho, Solagh, Tel Azer, and Tel Qasab.

This marks the eighth batch of remains returned to Sinjar since exhumations began in March 2019, led by the Iraqi Mass Graves and Missing Persons Directorate (MGMPD) and the MLD, with support from UNITAD (until its closure in 2024) and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). To date, 297 victims have been identified and laid to rest, out of 734 remains recovered so far. The identification process continues for the remaining 437 sets of remains.

The remains were handed over to their families during a solemn ceremony at the Yazidi Genocide Memorial site in Solagh, Sinjar, followed by official burials conducted in accordance with Yazidi religious traditions. The ceremony was attended by members of the Yazidi community, who gathered to mourn and honor the victims.

Yazda extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the wider Yazidi community on this painful day, coming less than two weeks after the 11th anniversary of the genocide.

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact:

info@yazda.org

About Yazda: 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Eleven Years On Honoring Yazidi Victims and Calling for Justice

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 11:04:56 GMT

Eleven Years On Honoring Yazidi Victims and Calling for Justice

August 3, 2025

Sinjar, Iraq – Today marks eleven years since the Yazidi community was targeted for annihilation by the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The attacks led to the mass killing, abduction, and displacement of thousands of Yazidis. Families were torn apart, communities destroyed, and lives changed forever.

On this solemn day of remembrance, Yazda stands in solidarity with the Yazidi people to honor the victims of the genocide. A public tribute is taking place at the Genocide Memorial in Sinjar, where survivors, families, and allies gather to pay their respects and renew the call for justice.

This day is not only about mourning what was lost, it is a call to action. In a recent report, Yazda surveyed 601 Yazidi survivors, who identified their top priorities for the future:

The search for missing loved ones (71%)
The exhumation of mass graves (64%)
Improved security in Sinjar (45%)
Reconstruction of destroyed hometowns (41%)
Access to justice (39%)

These priorities are not mere demands—they are essential components of a comprehensive transitional justice process. They reflect survivors’ enduring need for truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-repetition.

Yazda’s report urges the Government of Iraq, with the backing of the international community, to develop a multi-year national transitional justice strategy grounded in survivor participation and centered on their rights.

Yazda reaffirms its commitment to the survivors, to the families of those lost, and to the future of the Yazidi people. We call on the Government of Iraq and global partners to take meaningful, coordinated action to ensure justice, safety, and the rebuilding of Sinjar.

The Yazidi community must never endure such atrocities again.

We remember and we continue to fight for truth, justice, and lasting peace.

-END-

Download the press release here .

Read the press release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact:

info@yazda.org

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Implementing the Yazidi Survivors’ Law, A Review by and for Yazidi Survivors: Yazda Launches Report on the Progress, Gaps, and the Path to Survivor-Led Transitional Justice in Iraq.

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 12:19:16 GMT

Implementing the Yazidi Survivors’ Law, A Review by and for Yazidi Survivors: Yazda Launches Report on the Progress, Gaps, and the Path to Survivor-Led Transitional Justice in Iraq.

August 2, 2025

Erbil, Iraq – Yazda has released a groundbreaking report titled “Implementing the Yazidi Survivors Law: A Review by and for Yazidi Survivors” , marking the first large-scale assessment of survivors on the Yazidi Survivors’ Law (YSL), four years after its adoption by the Iraqi Parliament and two years after the beginning of its implementation. The Yazidi Survivors Law is a groundbreaking legislation providing a wide range of individual, collective, material and symbolic reparation measures to survivors of ISIL crimes including financial compensation, access to education, land, employment opportunities, and psychosocial support. Importantly, it formally recognizes the crimes committed by ISIL against Yazidi, Turkmen, Shabak, and Christian communities as genocide and crimes against humanity.

Drawing on the assessment of over 600 Yazidi survivors of ISIL captivity and 34 civil society organizations , the report presents an assessment of the YSL’s impact on survivors' lives, the barriers survivors face in accessing reparations, and their broader demands for truth, justice, and recovery.

“We thought we would be forgotten like so many others, but the Yazidi Survivors Law gave us back our names, our rights, and our dignity. For the first time in years, we feel seen and protected,” said one Yazidi survivor of the Kocho massacre interviewed in the report.

While over 2,400 survivors have received financial reparations and 250 have been granted residential land, Yazda’s research finds that many survivors continue to face a lengthy, costly and burdensome application process which lacks a trauma informed and survivors-centered approach: 60% of survivors assessed struggled with travels and 45% with the extensive documentation requirements. Moreover, many survivors remain unaware of their full rights under the law.

Yazda’s report also highlights survivors’ priorities in the implementation of the law. 71% of assessed survivors identified the search for missing relatives as their top concern, followed by the exhumation of mass graves (64%), the improvement of security in Sinjar (45%), the reconstruction of hometowns (41%), and access to justice (39%).

Survivors' set of priorities illustrate that the YSL cannot exist in isolation and its success depends on the implementation of a broader transitional justice framework in Iraq. As survivors have expressed, the full range of their rights - truth, justice, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence – must be realized through a comprehensive, inclusive, and survivor-informed national process.

The report notably calls on the Government of Iraq, with the support of the international community to:

Remove burdensome procedural barriers and ensure the application is survivors-centered, trauma-informed and limits the harm on survivors;
Ensure the full implementation of all YSL provisions, including access to employment, education, and psychosocial support;
Prioritize the search for missing persons and the exhumation of all remaining mass grave;
Develop a multi-annual national transitional justice strategy centered on survivor participation and rights.

The report is part of Yazda’s Transitional Justice and Rehabilitation Project and reflects over a decade of advocacy and support to survivors of ISIL atrocities.

Read the full report: https://www.yazda.org/publications/implementing_the_yazidi_survivors_law

Download the press release here .

Read the press release in Arabic here .

Survivors Lead the Way: Yazda Launches New Advocacy Initiative and Justice Report and, 11 Years After the Yazidi Genocide

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:26:46 GMT

Survivors Lead the Way: Yazda Launches New Advocacy Initiative and Justice Report and, 11 Years After the Yazidi Genocide

Erbil, 28 July 2025 — Eleven years after ISIL’s genocidal campaign against the Yazidi community, Yazda convened 300 participants in Erbil for a survivor-led conference focused on justice, accountability, and collective healing. Survivors, government officials, diplomats, UN representatives, religious and civil society actors gathered to reflect on the continuing impact of the genocide and to call for action rooted in survivor leadership.

“This is more than a commemoration, it is a call to action, shaped by survivors themselves over the past months,” said Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director of Yazda. “Survivors are not just beneficiaries. They are advocates and experts in rebuilding after loss, in defining justice, and in holding memory and future in the same hands.”

The event marked the graduation of 46 participants from the Know Your Rights (KYR) Program, a survivor-led training program designed by Yazda and supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) through its SPACE program. The KYR Program provided survivors in Sinjar and Duhok with training in transitional justice, advocacy, and ethical media engagement.

“This program taught me how and where to begin demanding our rights,” said Sufyan, one graduate and Yazidi survivor of mass execution. “As survivors, we will keep speaking up until this genocide is never repeated and our rights are fully realized.”

Yazda also launched its new report, Implementing the Yazidi Survivors Law: A Review by and for Yazidi Survivors. Drawing on surveys with 601 survivors and 34 organizations, the new report offers the most comprehensive review to date of the Yazidi Survivors Law (YSL). It highlights slow implementation, protection gaps, and the urgent need for survivor inclusion in all aspects of transitional justice. It also calls for a broader, survivor-centered framework that goes beyond reparations to include truth, criminal accountability, and guarantees of non-recurrence.

Interventions from Yazidi, Shabak, and Christian survivors as well as a representative of the Speicher camp massacre made clear the enduring trauma and unmet demands for justice. “We are not just victims. We are survivors. We are strong, and we have a voice,” said Hala Safil Amo, a prominent Yazidi advocate and survivor. “If justice is not served today, we will remind you of it tomorrow.”

The conference also featured panel discussions on survivor-centered advocacy, implementation of the YSL, and the search for the missing as well as exhumations of mass graves. Guests were invited to experience the award-winning VR exhibition Nobody’s Listening , developed by Upstream and Yazda, which immerses visitors in the lived experiences of Yazidi survivors.

Despite global recognition of the genocide, Yazidis remain displaced, Sinjar remains unstable, and thousands are still missing. Yazda’s event called for stronger national mechanisms to prosecute international crimes, implement the YSL fully, and place survivors at the center of Iraq’s justice efforts.

Download the press release here .

Read the press release in Arabic here .

UN Representative Calls for Justice, Dignity, and Lasting Solutions for Yazidis in Iraq

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 10:30:53 GMT

UN Representative Calls for Justice, Dignity, and Lasting Solutions for Yazidis in Iraq

Date: June 12, 2025 - In a compelling address before the UN Security Council on 10 June, Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan, Special Representative of the Secretary‑General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), issued a strong call for justice, protection, and dignity for the Yazidi people, more than a decade after the genocide in Sinjar.

“We believe it is essential to end this injustice against the indigenous Iraqi Yazidi people and to ensure their return to their homes and areas with dignity and honor.”

In a pointed appeal to the international community and regional stakeholders, Dr. Al Hassan stated:

“I say it loudly that the Yazidis in Iraq have suffered immensely beyond description at the hands of ISIS, and we in the United Nations, through you and your support, call on those concerned in Iraq and the [neighboring countries] to take all necessary measures to protect this community and restore their dignity, respect, appreciation and rightful humanitarian standing.”

He emphasized that any return process must go beyond relocation alone:

“The return process cannot just be physical relocation. It needs to be a meaningful process that rebuilds lives, livelihoods, and hope for the future.”

More than 100,000 Yazidis remain displaced across Iraq, many still living in camps or informal settlements. While recent developments, including the issuance of over 1,300 land ownership letters and nearly 100 title deeds, represent important progress, Dr. Al Hassan warned that:

“Sustainable conditions for return require more coherent political, administrative and security measures… in addition to significant investment in job creation and local services.”

His remarks follow a high-level meeting held on 29 May in Baghdad, where Yazda’s Executive Director, Natia Navrouzov, and members of the Yazda team met with Dr. Al Hassan to brief him on the continued displacement, insecurity, and urgent needs of the Yazidi community. The priorities raised during that meeting, including durable solutions for return, justice for survivors, and long-term international support, were clearly echoed in Dr. Al Hassan’s remarks.

“To this day, a number of Yazidi men and women remain in a state of near‑forced captivity after Da’esh ravaged their lives, Iraq, and the region as a whole. The Yazidis in Iraq have suffered immensely beyond description at the hands of ISIS.”

As UNAMI enters its final months, with operations scheduled to conclude by 31 December 2025 following Security Council resolution 2732, Dr. Al Hassan stressed the importance of sustaining the UN’s engagement on human rights and minority issues:

“The United Nations is ready to continue supporting these and other human rights initiatives and engage with the Government of Iraq… in exploring options for continuing such support after UNAMI’s departure.”

Yazda welcomes Dr. Al Hassan’s unequivocal recognition of the Yazidi community’s struggle and his call for lasting solutions grounded in dignity and justice. As Iraq transitions beyond the UNAMI mandate, Yazda emphasizes that support for Yazidis and other minority communities must remain a priority through transitional justice, inclusion, and coordinated national recovery.

“Iraq is a nation of profound history, strength, potential, and pride. By working together, Iraqis can continue to make meaningful strides towards stability, prosperity, and human rights for all,” Dr. Al Hassan concluded.

Yazda remains committed to working with the United Nations, the Government of Iraq, and international partners to ensure that Yazidi voices are heard, survivors are supported, and justice is not only promised but delivered.

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact:

info@yazda.org

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Iraqi Authorities and Yazda Sign Landmark Agreement to Advance Justice and The Search for Missing Yazidis

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:36:03 GMT

Iraqi Authorities and Yazda Sign Landmark Agreement to Advance Justice and The Search for Missing Yazidis

Date: 2 June 2025

Baghdad, Iraq – In a significant step toward truth, accountability, and healing, Yazda signed a Cooperation Agreement on 29 May 2025 with the Martyrs Foundation’s Department for the Protection of Mass Graves and Missing Persons, and the Medico-Legal Directorate (MLD) of Iraq’s Ministry of Health. Grounded in Article 14 of Iraq’s Mass Graves Protection Law (Law No. 5 of 2006, as amended by Law No. 13 of 2015), the agreement reflects a shared commitment to preserving the memory of Yazidi victims, supporting the rights of their families, and ensuring that the atrocities they endured are never forgotten and never allowed to happen again.

The event brought together representatives from the three institutions for a roundtable discussion on the challenges, progress, and shared goals in advancing a survivor-centered and culturally sensitive approach to the exhumation of mass graves, identification of remains, and dignified burials in Iraq.

The agreement formalizes this spirit of collaboration, setting out how the three entities will work in partnership to uphold the dignity of victims and ensure that families and survivors are never forgotten. As part of the agreement, the parties will jointly work to:

Exhume, identify and return Yazidi victims’ remains in a dignified and trauma-informed manner.
Organize blood sample collection campaigns from families of the missing, inside and outside Iraq.
Develop and disseminate outreach materials to raise awareness of the exhumation and identification process.
Support burials, provide psychological assistance, and build memorialization initiatives.
Deliver joint trainings and documentation efforts to strengthen institutional capacity.
Promote survivor engagement and support access to national reparations mechanisms.

Natia Navrouzov, Yazda Executive Director commented: “The signing of this agreement marks a historic moment for Yazda and the Yazidi community. The work of the Mass Graves Directorate and the Medico-Legal Directorate has not only been central to exposing ISIL’s crimes and advancing justice, but it has also been the most visible and tangible sign to our community that justice is possible. Since March 2019, we have worked side by side, and this agreement formalizes the trust and mutual respect that have grown between us.

To deliver justice to families of the missing, this work must be backed by political will, financial resources, and technical support. Over 2,600 Yazidis are still missing, and the search for truth must extend beyond Iraq’s borders, particularly to Syria and Turkey, where many were last seen. This work must be survivor-led, internationally supported, and rooted in dignity.”

Mr. Diaa Karim , Director of the Mass Graves and Missing Persons Directorate commented: “The cooperation agreement signed with the Yazda international organization represents a significant step in strengthening collaboration between the Yazidi civil society organizations and the relevant sectoral entities involved in the issue of mass graves and missing persons.

This agreement contributes effectively to coordinating efforts aimed at locating undiscovered mass graves and taking the necessary measures to preserve them. It also supports the families of the missing by facilitating communication with the specialized national teams and by considering the psychological needs of the victims’ families”.

Furthermore, the agreement provides a legal framework that enables the provision of essential logistical support to the national teams working on this critical humanitarian issue.

Dr. Zaid Ali Abass , Director of the Medico-Legal Department commented: “We are confident that this agreement with Yazda will have a positive impact on the families of the missing persons and will raise expectations for finding their loved ones both inside and outside Iraq. As a result, our aspirations have grown, and our communication with the families of victims and the missing persons has become more comprehensive and effective”.

This collaboration represents a vital step in Iraq’s journey toward justice and memory and Yazda stands ready to continue supporting survivors and national institutions in this shared mission.

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact:

info@yazda.org

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

France’s Highest Court Orders Reconsideration of Genocide Charges Against French ISIL Member Sonia Mejri

Thu, 29 May 2025 06:41:39 GMT

France’s Highest Court Orders Reconsideration of Genocide Charges Against French ISIL Member Sonia Mejri

Date: 29 May, 2025

Paris, May 2025 - In a landmark decision, France’s Cour de cassation has ruled on May 7, 2025, to reinstate the possibility of genocide charges against Sonia Mejri, a French national affiliated with ISIL, in relation to crimes committed against a Yazidi victim. The ruling overturns part of a January 22, 2025, decision by the Chambre de l’instruction which had previously annulled the genocide charge. The case will now be referred back to a newly constituted Chambre de l’instruction for re-examination of the accusation for genocide.

Sonia Mejri is accused of committing crimes against a Yazidi adolescent girl who was held captive in Syria in the house of Sonia Mejri and her ISIL-affiliated husband in 2015 where she was enslaved and subjected to violence and abuse. The survivor was targeted for her Yazidi identity as part of the genocide committed by ISIL against this minority community and as part of the system of organized slave trade.

In its ruling, the Cour de cassation held that an individual may be prosecuted for genocide even when the acts are committed against a single member of a group, provided the group was targeted as part of a coordinated plan aimed at its total or partial destruction. This position contrasts with the interpretation of the Paris Court of Appeal, which had argued that multiple victims were required for such a charge. This interpretation aligns with the jurisprudence of international courts and tribunals on the prosecution of genocide and is a great advancement against impunity in France, ensuring that perpetrators will be held accountable for the commission of international crimes.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda commented: “This ruling is a historic moment for Yazidi survivors and a powerful affirmation that justice systems in Europe can and must rise to the challenge of prosecuting genocide. For years, Yazidi women and girls have bravely testified to the crimes they endured, and today, France’s highest court has confirmed that targeting even one victim with the intent to destroy an entire community can constitute genocide. We commend the Cour de cassation for aligning with international law and urge French authorities to move forward swiftly and decisively. Survivors deserve nothing less.”

The new chambre will only now decide if, in addition to criminal association with terrorist intent (“association de malfaiteurs terroriste”) and complicity of crime against humanity, Sonia Mejri will also face trial for complicity of genocide.

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here.

###

For media inquiries, please contact:

info@yazda.org

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Germany’s 10th Trial on ISIL Crimes Trial Opens in Munich Against ISIL Couple Accused of Enslaving and Torturing Two Yazidi Girls

Fri, 23 May 2025 09:31:59 GMT

Trial Opens in Munich Against ISIL Couple Accused of Enslaving and Torturing Two Yazidi Girls

Date: 23 May 2025

Munich, Germany — May 23, 2025 — The Higher Regional Court of Munich has opened a trial against Asia R.A. and Twana S., a couple accused of being members of the so-called Islamic State (ISIL) and participating in the enslavement, torture, and sexual abuse of two Yazidi girls, aged five and twelve. The charges include crimes against humanity, war crimes, human trafficking, and genocide, based on acts committed between 2015 and 2017 in Mosul, Iraq, and Deir ez-Zor, Syria.

The case is being prosecuted under Germany’s universal jurisdiction laws, which allow national courts to try international crimes committed abroad. It is the 10th trial in Germany addressing ISIL atrocities against Yazidis (previous cases were against Jennifer W. , Taha al-Jumailly , Leonora M. , Jalda A., Nadine K. , Sarah O ., Nurten J. , Omaima A. , Romiena S. ).

According to the charges, Twana S., was born in 1981 and is from Kurdistan Region’s Halabja province. He arrived in Germany in the early 2000s, later became radicalized in a Salafist Mosque and joined ISIL. He met Asia R.A., a Kurd from Iraq’s Hawija town in Kirkuk province, in ISIL-controlled territory, where they married and had two children. The couple returned to Germany in 2018 and settled in Bavaria before separating.

Twana S. was previously convicted in Germany for ISIL membership and receiving combat training. In April 2024, the couple was arrested in the cities of Rot and Regensburg after new allegations emerged relating to the enslavement and abuse of Yazidi children.

The first survivor was five years old when she was purchased in 2015 from a slave market in Mosul. Prosecutors allege she was forced to work as a domestic servant, beaten, humiliated, denied freedom of movement, and scalded with boiling water. She was also exposed to religious teachings. Her location is currently unknown.

The second survivor was twelve when she was purchased by the couple in 2017 from a military base in Deir ez-Zor. According to prosecutors, she was repeatedly raped and abused. In one incident detailed in the indictment, Asia R.A. instructed her to bathe, dress up, and wear makeup before sending her to Twana S., who tied her up and raped her. She was later freed in 2018 after her family paid a ransom of approximately $12,000 USD. She is expected to testify during the trial.

The acts are alleged to have been committed with the intent to destroy the Yazidi community in whole or in part, grounds for the genocide charge under international criminal law.

The opening of the Munich trial against two alleged ISIL members for crimes against Yazidi children comes at a critical moment. As Europe marks the EU Day Against Impunity on 23 May, this case stands as a powerful reminder of the continent's role in advancing justice beyond its borders. Germany’s use of universal jurisdiction to prosecute genocide and crimes against humanity reflects the EU’s core commitment to accountability. This trial also follows the conviction of Hasna A . in the Netherlands and of Lina I. in Sweden.

Together, these cases signal a growing momentum across Europe to ensure that ISIL’s crimes do not go unpunished. Yet in the absence of a comprehensive international justice effort, and following the closure of UNITAD , the path to accountability remains fragmented. There is still no clear plan in Iraq to address core international crimes, and with a new regime in Syria, the future of transitional justice for ISIL crimes committed there remains uncertain. Justice today is not only about redressing past atrocities but essential to preventing future ones.

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here.

###

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda: 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Yazda Urges Arab League to Prioritize Justice and Minority Rights Following Baghdad Summit

Sat, 17 May 2025 15:02:30 GMT

Yazda Urges Arab League to Prioritize Justice and Minority Rights Following Baghdad
Summit

Date: 17 May 2025

Baghdad, Iraq — May 17, 2025 – As Iraq hosts the 34th Arab League Summit, Yazda is calling on Arab leaders to place justice, accountability, and the protection of minority rights at the center of their regional agenda. The organization emphasizes that coordinated, cross-border action is essential to address the crimes committed by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and to support the recovery of survivors.

For over a decade, Yazidis and other minority groups have endured grave atrocities at the hands of ISIL. Iraq has made important steps toward justice, including the passage of the Yazidi Survivors Law, the exhumation of mass graves, and the return of remains to the families of victims. Although these efforts are still ongoing and incomplete, they represent critical progress in transitional justice and offer valuable lessons for neighboring countries, especially Syria, as it emerges from conflict.

However, significant gaps remain. Thousands of Yazidis are still missing—many of them women and children abducted by ISIL and trafficked across borders into Syria and Turkey. Because ISIL’s crimes transcended national borders, achieving justice requires regional coordination and collective action.

Yazda urges the Arab League and its member states to take the following steps as part of a unified response to ISIL crimes:

Establish a joint Iraqi Syrian mechanism , with Arab League and international support, to locate and rescue missing Yazidis and other victims, in coordination with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP).

Ensure Yazidi representation in all transitional justice discussions related to Syria, facilitated through cross-border cooperation.

Support coordinated prosecutions of ISIL members across the region, with harmonized legal frameworks and shared evidence for crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

Adopt and implement minority rights protections across the Arab world to prevent future atrocities.

Formally recognize the Yazidi genocide in Syria and commit to inclusive, survivor-centered recovery and reparations efforts.

Justice must not stop at national borders. Regional coordination, survivor participation, and international solidarity are essential to uncover the truth and restore dignity to those who suffered ISIL’s brutal crimes.

The Arab League has a responsibility to act. Justice, accountability, and non-repetition must become a shared regional mission rooted in cooperation, backed by law, and led by the voices of survivors.

Yazda stands ready to work with regional and international partners to rescue those still missing, uphold survivors' rights, and build a future grounded in dignity, accountability, and peace.

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact: info@yazda.org

About Yazda: 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Yazda Commends the Exhumation of 13 Yazidi Mass Graves and Kill Sites in Sinjar by Iraqi Authorities

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 18:06:16 GMT

Yazda Commends the Exhumation of 13 Yazidi Mass Graves and Kill Sites in Sinjar by Iraqi Authorities

Date: Iraq, 28 April 2025

Sinjar, Iraq, April 28, 2025 - Between February 5 and 22, 2025, Iraqi authorities exhumed 13 mass graves and killing sites in Sinjar and its surrounding areas, including Sinjar City, Tel Azer, and Zumany (Qazelkand area). These efforts focused on uncovering crimes committed during the Yazidi genocide by the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The operations were carried out by key national bodies, including the Mass Graves and Missing Directorate (MGMD) [formerly known as the Mass Graves Directorate or MGD], the Medico-Legal Directorate (MLD), and the Commission for Investigation and Gathering Evidence (CIGE) with the support of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP).

These latest exhumations bring the total number of sites exhumed in Sinjar and Ba’aj to 74 since March 2019.1 According to data collected by Yazda, approximately 14 mass graves and killing sites still await exhumation and this number may rise as returning residents uncover new sites. Those remaining sites are expected to be added by the Iraqi authorities to the national excavation and investigation teams’ annual plan.

Once exhumed, all remains are transferred to the MLD in Baghdad, where forensic experts use DNA matching and family-provided blood samples to identify the victims. When the identification process is complete, the remains are returned to the families for a dignified burial in their hometown, in accordance with Yazidi rites and culture. Since March 2019, the remains of 734 victims have been exhumed from mass graves containing Yazidi victims; while 275 victims were already identified, 459 are still awaiting identification.

Yazda commends the ongoing efforts of Iraqi institutions in exhuming mass grave sites and helping to bring closure to the families of mass atrocity victims.

Over a decade now, Yazda has played a central role in documenting, supporting, and advocating for the exhumation and identification of Yazidi genocide victims. Since 2015, Yazda has documented mass graves and kill sites, publishing two key reports— Mass Graves of Yazidis Killed by the Islamic State Organization (2016) and Working Against the Clock (2018) . Yazda has provided on-site support during exhumations through its Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) which offered ongoing medical and mental health assistance to families throughout both exhumation and burial processes, ensuring culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care and helping families navigate the path toward justice and closure.

Over 10 years after the beginning of ISIL’s genocidal campaign in Sinjar, Yazda:

Urges all relevant actors to join their efforts in finalizing the exhumation of the remaining mass graves and killing sites in Sinjar and Ba'aj districts as well as all over Iraq.
Calls on the Iraqi Government to provide MGMD and MLD with the adequate budget to finalize the exhumation process in Sinjar and Ba'aj districts by the end of 2025 and the identification process of all the remains exhumed. Similar support must be provided to both teams to complete their work across the country and assist other communities , including by exhuming sites related to crimes committed by groups other than ISIL.
Calls on the international community to provide technical and financial support to Iraqi teams to speed up the exhumation and identification process.
Encourages third countries where families of the missing relocated , including Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States of America and France, to coordinate with Iraqi authorities and organize blood sample campaigns to support the identification process.
Urges all actors involved to adopt a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed approach. This ensures that Yazidi families are treated with dignity and respect, supports their emotional and psychological well-being, and helps them navigate the path toward justice and closure in a way that honors their traditions and lived experiences.

Healing cannot take place without the return and dignified burial of all the victims of ISIL crimes, but also without the establishment of truth and meaningful and participatory justice. Revealing the fate of missing loved ones is essential to honoring the rights of their families and is a key step toward healing and closure. Finding the missing and identifying all the victims of the genocide committed by ISIL should be the priority of the Iraqi Government and of the international community.

-END-

Download this press release here .

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

###

For media inquiries, please contact:

info@yazda.org

About Yazda: 

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Yazda’s Statement on International Women’s Rights Day: Advancing Economic Justice for Women and Girls in Iraq

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 15:57:00 GMT

Yazda’s Statement on International Women’s Rights Day: Advancing Economic Justice for Women and Girls in Iraq

Iraq, 8 March 2025

Today marks International Women’s Rights Day, a day to celebrate women and girls’ achievement, and push for greater gender equality and a world free of gender-based violence.

While social equality and economic empowerment for all women and girls is essential in achieving gender equality, in Iraq, women and girls continue to face economic violence, unequal economic opportunities and discrimination.

Women and girls from minority communities targeted by ISIL crimes face even greater hardship. The adoption of the Yazidi Survivors Law (YSL) in 2021 is a crucial step towards the rehabilitation of survivors of ISIL captivity and ensuring their access to employment. The law mandates the Iraqi government to provide a wide range of reparations including:

Financial reparations (Art. 6.1),
Access to education (Art. 5.4 and 6.3) and
Access to employment (Art. 6.4 and 5.5).

These provisions have the potential to be life-changing for women and girls from affected communities. Yet, most of these provisions remain to be implemented including “ securing employment and job opportunities to enable female survivors to achieve their economic and social well-being.” (Article 5.5). Moreover, accessing reparations does not guarantee a life free from violence: survivors continue to face the risk of economic violence and abuse, including in their households. Without strong protection systems for women and girls victim or at risk of violence in Iraq, women will continue to face domestic abuse with impunity.

Additionally, for the YSL to be truly transformative for all communities affected by the genocide, the law has to be linked to broader public policies, addressing the intertwined issues of gender inequality, structural discrimination, geographical isolation, sustained insecurity and poverty. As of today, much of Sinjar remains in ruins, as the government has failed to prioritize its reconstruction and security. Access to essential services and infrastructure is severely limited, with a lack of work opportunities disproportionately affecting women's ability to achieve economic independence. Without integrating reparations into public policies that focus on rebuilding Sinjar’s social, cultural, and economic fabric - while also addressing the region’s pre-existing structural challenges - Yazidi women and girls will continue to face significant barriers to financial autonomy.

All women and girls in Iraq have the right to economic empowerment, financial independence, and a life free from economic violence. The government must uphold its commitments and ensure that reparations are linked to strong public policies and lead to real, lasting change.

-END-

Download this press release here .

For media inquiries, please contact:

info@yazda.org

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Yazda Statement on Its Meeting with the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation in Baghdad

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:04:39 GMT

Yazda Statement on Its Meeting with the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation in Baghdad

Baghdad, 12 February 2025

Yazda's Executive Director, Natia Navrouzov, met with Judge Ali Hussein Jafat, President of the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation (NCIJC), and his team to discuss pathways toward justice and accountability for ISIL crimes in Iraq. Hasan Jamil Khalid from the Coalition for Just Reparations (C4JR), the meeting’s organizer, was present as well as William Warda from Hammurabi Human Rights Organization and Yazda's Head of Programs, Zoe Paris.

The NCIJC was established under the Iraqi High Judiciary following the closure of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) in September 2024. The center’s mandate is to continue UNITAD’s work, focusing on delivering justice and accountability for crimes perpetrated by ISIL.

This meeting marked the NCIJC’s inaugural engagement with civil society organizations (CSOs) in Iraq. All participants underscored the importance of building robust partnerships between the center and CSOs to ensure the justice process in Iraq remains survivor-centered and transparent.

During the discussions, Yazda’s Executive Director raised several critical points:

● Pursuit of Justice Post-UNITAD Closure: Despite UNITAD’s departure, affected communities maintain hope for justice regarding international crimes committed in Iraq. Natia Navrouzov emphasized that Iraq must take the first step by passing legislation to criminalize core international crimes (war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity). In response, Judge Ali Hussein Jafat noted that until such a law is adopted, prosecutions for international crimes will proceed using Anti-Terrorism Law No. 13 of 2005 alongside provision 7 of the Yazidi Survivors Law.

● Ensuring Survivor Safety and Informed Consent: The center must guarantee the safe participation of survivors in judicial processes, including the full implementation of witness protection measures. Survivor testimonies must be handled with the utmost care and confidentiality, shared only with their informed consent.

● Concerns Over the General Amnesty Law: The Yazidi community expressed significant concern about the potential implications of the general amnesty law, fearing it could lead to the release of ISIL members currently imprisoned in Iraq. The Supreme Judicial Council has the next day issued a statement addressing these concerns and providing clarification on scope of the amnesty law which can be accessed here: Supreme Judicial Court Statement .

Yazda remains committed to continued engagement with the NCIJC to ensure that avenues for prosecuting international crimes and securing justice for ISIL survivors are firmly established and upheld in Iraq.

-END-

Read this Press Release in Arabic here .

For media inquiries, please contact:

info@yazda.org

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

A Dutch court hands down historic verdict and convicts an ISIL member for crimes against Yazidis in landmark case in Netherlands

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:10:31 GMT

A Dutch court hands down historic verdict and convicts an ISIL member for crimes against Yazidis in landmark case in Netherlands

11 December 2024

Today, the international crimes division of the District Court of The Hague handed down the verdict in the Hasna A. case . It is the first trial in the Netherlands in which a member of the so-called Islamic State in Syria and the Levant (ISIL, also referred to as ISIS, IS, or by its Arabic acronym Daesh) has been convicted for crime committed against Yazidis.

Hasna A., a Dutch national, travelled to Syria in 2015 with her four-year-old son, married an ISIL-member and lived in the ISIL-controlled city of Raqqa. She was tried for charges related to membership of ISIL, a terrorist group, as well as for endangering her son by bringing him with her to Syria and keeping him there. Importantly, Hasna A. also stood trial for the use of two Yazidi women as domestic slaves. The Yazidi women –referred to throughout the criminal proceedings only as ‘Z.’ and ‘S.’— had been enslaved by ISIL in August 2014. They were enslaved and kept in several houses where Hasna A. stayed whilst living in Raqqa in 2015 (Z.) and 2016 (S.), and Hasna A. forced them to perform domestic chores. Hasna A. also forced Z. to look after her four-year-old son. The slavery charges were brought against Hasna A. as crimes against humanity.

Hasna A. is one of twelve Dutch women who had been repatriated from detention camps in Northern Syria at the end of 2022. She was arrested upon arrival in the Netherlands and taken into pretrial detention, appearing before the Trial Panel every three months. The Trial Panel had referred the case to the investigating judge and further investigation took place into the charges, which included hearing both Yazidi women as witnesses in 2024. The substantive hearings in the criminal proceedings against Hasna A. took place before the Trial Panel on 14, 16 and 17 October 2024.

In today’s verdict, the court sentenced Hasna A. to a 10-year prison sentence for four offences: enslaving Z. in Syria in 2015, membership to the terrorist organization ISIL, promoting terrorist crimes and endangering her minor son. The court held that the enslavement of Z. amounted to a crime against humanity. The sentence is higher than the demand of the public prosecutor, who had demanded a prison sentence of eight years. The slavery charges against S. were not proven and Hasna A. was acquitted in relation to this offence.

The verdict is available in Dutch and an English translation will be available soon.

The two Yazidi survivors Z. and S. who participated in the trial as victims (survivors), injured parties and witnesses to the facts were accompanied by Yazda and supported throughout the process with translation, mental health and awareness support.

The arrest, prosecution and trial of Hasna A. sends a clear message that, like other countries applying similar universal jurisdiction principles, the Netherlands will not be a safe haven for ISIL perpetrators.

With today’s conviction, the Netherlands becomes the second country in the world to convict an ISIL-member for international crimes committed against Yazidis, looking beyond terrorism.

Z. commented : "Our dream has finally come true, and we’ve achieved the result we longed for. This woman, Hasna A., caused us immense harm, and now it’s time for justice to prevail. Holding individuals accountable for their actions is a vital part of the justice process."

S. added: "Honestly, I’m truly relieved to see justice finally served. However, a 10-year prison sentence feels insufficient and will never fully compensate for the suffering we have endured.”

The outcome of this trial would have also not been possible without their legal representatives, Brechtje Vossenberg and Barbara van Straaten from law firm Prakken d’Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers in Amsterdam (the Netherlands).

Brechtje Vossenberg commented: “It is thanks to the bravery and resilience of women like Z. and S. that the court was able to hand this verdict down and convict Hasna A. for the international crime of slavery committed against Z. Despite the disappointment that the charges relating to S. were unfortunately not proven, the verdict still marks another milestone in the long road to justice for the Yazidi community. It is the first of its kind here in the Netherlands and an important signal that the international crimes committed against Yazidis will be prosecuted here whenever possible. My clients’ participation in this trial was crucial to the establishment of the truth and the measure of justice that was obtained here today. I take my hat off to them both.”

The Dutch court took a groundbreaking approach by providing online access to the substantive hearing sessions in both Dutch and Kurdish Kurmanji. This allowed survivors abroad and those who were unable to attend the hearings in person, to follow remotely both the substantive hearings in October and the pronouncement of the judgement today. Yazda facilitated screenings of the trial in Duhok (Kurdistan Region of Iraq) and Sinjar (Federal Iraq) where most of the global Yazidi community members currently reside. Around 40 members of the Yazidi community, including family members of one of the witnesses in the case attended the events and were, for the first time in a decade, able to witness justice in action.

Following the verdict, one participant commented: “We want ISIL criminals to face fair sentencing, and we hope other countries will follow the Netherlands’ example in prosecuting these criminals.” Another added: “Other trials should be accessible online, and survivors in those countries should be invited to attend.”

This trial is another milestone in the quest for justice by ISIL survivors. It is also only the 10th conviction worldwide of an ISIL member for crimes against Yazidis, a decade since the start of the genocide. Indeed, 9 convictions were handed down in Germany so far, including three for genocide. Recently, Sweden and France have initiated legal proceedings against alleged ISIL members for their involvement in crimes against Yazidis, signaling an important step in holding perpetrators accountable in a broader international context. However, the recent and abrupt closure of UNITAD on 17 September 2024 might jeopardize ongoing investigations and trials in third countries as the question of the accessibility of the evidence has still not been resolved.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda commented: "We commend the Dutch authorities and everyone who supported this case. Witnessing survivors follow the livestream of the verdict today from our offices in Duhok and Sinjar was a powerful reminder of the purpose behind our work, as it is ultimately for them. We are deeply proud of Z. and S., whose courage in coming forward made this case possible. While we are immensely relieved that Hasna A. has been convicted for her crimes, we had hoped the slavery charges concerning S. would also be fully acknowledged."

###

Read the Arabic press release here.

Download this English press release here.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Tonny Omondi

Media and Communications Coordinator

e: tonny.omondi@yazda.org

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Joint Open Letter by Human Rights Watch and Yazda to the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the Hate Speech Targeting the Yazidi Community of Iraq

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 15:03:18 GMT

Joint Open Letter by Human Rights Watch and Yazda to the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the Hate Speech Targeting the Yazidi Community of Iraq

December 10, 2024.

IRAQ- Human Rights Watch and Yazda condemn the wave of hate speech which targeted the Yazidi community in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) in August 2024. We are concerned by these acts that threaten the peace, safety, and coexistence that the Iraqi society strives to maintain.

Coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide committed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Yazidis in Iraq have been again subjected to waves of disturbing languages advocating hatred and inciting violence, hostility and discrimination. Such rhetoric has fuelled online attacks, insults and threats of violence and incitement to violence, with some messages ultimately calling for another genocide.

These attacks created a sentiment of fear in the Yazidi community which is still coping with the trauma related to the genocide committed by ISIL from August 2014 onwards. Many Yazidis have reached out to Civil Society Organizations in fear of imminent attacks, and hundreds of families left the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) camps in the Kurdistan region to return to Sinjar by fear of violence in the KRI.

The surge in hate speech illustrates the unresolved and unaddressed discrimination and systemic violence faced by Yazidis and other ethnic and religious communities in Iraq. The root causes of hate and violence committed against minority and indigenous communities in Iraq have never been addressed by Iraqi and KRI authorities, to ensure the crimes committed against them are never repeated.

Human Rights Watch and Yazda unequivocally denounce hate speech against any religious, racial or national groups, and stand firmly against extremism in all its forms. The undersigned call upon the Iraqi government, the Kurdistan Regional Government and all other relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action to ensure the safety and security of all ethnic and religious groups in Iraq, including from hate speech and other violent acts:

To the Iraqi Government:

Adopt a comprehensive law on the protection of minority rights in Iraq, including protection from online violence and other forms of advocacy of hatred, in accordance with international law and standards while ensuring that they do not unlawfully restrict the right to freedom of expression and freedom of press.
Fully implement the Yazidi Survivors Law and develop a comprehensive plan for the next 5 to 10 years on the transitional justice process in Iraq, establishing the truth over the crimes committed and tackling the root causes of hate.
Promote awareness and education and ensure the inclusion, in the education programs, of information on all the ethnic and religious groups in Iraq, their religion, culture and history. Include, in the history curriculum, a dedicated chapter on the genocide and other crimes committed by ISIL against minority groups. The Ministry of Education should ensure the participation of all ethnic and religious minorities in the creation and review of this curriculum, to ensure accurate self-representation.
Foster interfaith dialogue between the various religious and ethnic communities in Iraq, by facilitating open dialogues and awareness campaigns that challenge divisive and violent narratives and promote mutual respect.

To the Kurdistan Regional Government:

Enforce the Kurdistan Region's Law on Minority Rights by focusing on strengthening enforcement mechanisms essential to protecting minority groups. Ensure the protection of minorities from online violence and hate speech, while preserving freedom of speech, freedom of press and freedom of expression. The Ministry of Education should ensure the participation of all ethnic and religious minorities in the creation and review of this curriculum, to ensure accurate self-representation.
Issue clear guidelines and ensure the provision of training by the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs to religious leaders to counter stereotypes, eradicate discrimination and foster greater equality, including on ways of preventing hate speech and promoting the rights of minority groups.
Ensure inclusion, in the education programs, of information on all the ethnic and religious groups in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, their religion, culture and history. Include, in the history curriculum, a dedicated chapter on the genocide and other crimes committed by ISIL against minority groups.

To META and other big tech companies:

Take urgent steps to address instances of hate, racism and misinformation on online platforms to ensure that they do not cause or contribute to human rights abuses.
Remove content including videos, posts, photos and comments that incite violence, hostility or discrimination against specific groups with protected characteristics and suspend the accounts of repeated offenders. Preserve an archive of human rights violations and abuses that may have evidentiary value, and provide access to data for independent researchers and investigators, including those in the fields of human rights, while protecting user privacy.
Adequately staff and resource moderation teams must include staff fluent in various Arabic and Kurdish dialects and with a deep understanding of regional issues. The moderation teams and any automated tools they use must be trained to effectively reduce the spread of hate speech and violence in the different languages, including in Kurdish and Arabic.
Engage meaningfully with organizations defending the right of the Yazidi community to develop policies and features, from design to implementation and enforcement, including on content moderation and trust and safety strategies that prioritize addressing incitement to violence, hostility, or discrimination against the Yazidi community. Companies should be proactively prepared to address waves of hate speech that may arise during particular times, including the commemoration of the genocide.

To the International Community:

Acknowledge and condemn the ongoing advocacy of hatred that incites violence and discrimination against the Yazidi community and monitor developments closely.
Support the implementation of the Yazidi Survivors Law and additional transitional justice measures in Iraq and the KRI and support the passage of a law by the Iraqi Parliament on the protection of minority rights in Iraq.
Ensure that the hate speech and other forms of violence and systemic discrimination faced by Yazdis in Iraq up until today are taken into account when assessing the protection claims of Yazidis.
Support projects aiming at tackling the root causes of violence and hate through education, awareness and dialogue.
Finally, we urge Iraqi citizens to stand in solidarity with the Yazidis and all minority groups, fostering an environment of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s strength lies in its diversity, and all actors should work together to protect and celebrate this diversity.

Human Rights Watch and Yazda remain committed to continuing our efforts to promote human rights, justice, and reconciliation.

Read this open letter in Arabic here .

Download the English letter here .

We look forward to receiving your inquiries at media@yazda.org

Under Constant Threat: Yazda Launches Report on Hate Speech Targeting the Yazidi Community in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, Urging Action from Both Governments and the International Community

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 15:35:29 GMT

Under Constant Threat: Yazda Launches Report on Hate Speech Targeting the Yazidi Community in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, Urging Action from Both Governments and the International Community

Iraq, 9 December 2024

Yazda has launched a new report titled ‘Under Constant Threat: Hate Speech Against the Yazidi Community in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’ that sheds light on the wave of hate speech which targeted the Yazidi community in August 2024, few days after the 10th commemoration of the Yazidi genocide.

On August 3, 2024, during a commemoration of the Yazidi genocide, a remark during a speech by a Yazidi Peshmerga Commander, sparked widespread outrage after being perceived as offensive to Islam. Despite the commander’s later clarification that his remarks targeted extremist ideologies, the backlash led to a surge of hate speech on social media, primarily in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) against Yazidis. The wave of hate speech that followed caused widespread panic among Yazidis, leading thousands to flee Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in KRI to find refuge in their areas of origin. Many families returned to Sinjar, where they continue to face severe insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient support.

Over the years, there has been a growing pattern of hate speech notably coinciding with the commemoration of the Yazidi genocide on August 3rd and raising fears of renewed violence against the community.

"We as Yazidis feel that we are surrounded by death; wherever we go, we are encountered by death. We fled from Shingal to Kurdistan thinking that we would be safe and secure here; however, many hate speeches have taken place against us.” - Yazidi Survivor living in the KRI

Through this report, Yazda aims to document and analyze this new campaign of hatred while placing it within a broader historical context of institutionalized discrimination, stigmatization and persecution of the Yazidi community.

For the purpose of this report, Yazda analyzed 62 messages from 51 screenshots taken during the August 2024 hate speech wave. From the 62 messages analyzed:

25 call for another genocide;
16 call for violence;
22 refer to Yazidis as devil worshipers, supporters of Satan or infidels;
6 call for the use of gender-based violence against women and girls from the Yazidi community or glorify crimes of sexual violence committed by ISIL;
21 include insults, curses, or refer to Yazidis as animals.

These messages illustrate the urgency of tackling the root causes of violence, hate, discriminations and divisions. These waves of hate speech have deep consequences on the targeted community, and also on the Iraqi society as a whole.

"I cannot sleep. Every time I hear the threats, I remember the faces of my brothers who were killed in front of me and my mother who was taken by ISIS." - a Yazidi mass grave survivor living in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The report also provided for a set of recommendations. Yazda calls on both the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq to strengthen their legal framework to protect minority rights while tackling the root causes of hate and violence, notably through education and awareness. Yazda also calls on social media platforms to take deliberate and urgent steps to address instances of hate, racism and misinformation and any content that incites violence, hostility or discrimination.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director of Yazda commented:

“In light of the hate speech that occurred last year, we feared that another wave could emerge this year. This fear stems from the precarious situation of the Yazidis in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Despite the passing of ten years since the genocide, the underlying causes remain largely unaddressed. While efforts have been made on the military front to defeat ISIL and on the humanitarian front to meet some of the community's needs, there has been little progress in tackling the root causes of the genocide. Without addressing these issues, the risk of another genocide remains alarmingly real. For the Yazidi community and all those who lived through the horrors of August 2014, this situation is deeply unsettling, continuing to evoke fear and trauma.

However, the recent wave of hate speech presents an opportunity for Iraq, the KRI, and the international community to reflect on the gaps and build upon the Yazidi Survivors Law. It is crucial to draft and promote a comprehensive transitional justice framework in Iraq, one that provides ISIL survivors with justice, accountability, and a sense of agency over their future. Without these concerted efforts, the Yazidis face the existential threat of disappearing from the region altogether.”

Yazda strongly condemns hate speech against all ethnic and religious groups and communities in Iraq and the KRI, including Muslims, Christians, Yazidis, Turkmen, and Shabak, as well as discourses against tolerance and coexistence between communities.

###

Read and Download the Full Report Here: English

Download the English press release here .

Arabic and Kurdish versions to be published soon.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Tonny Omondi

Media and Communications Coordinator, Yazda

e: tonny.omondi@yazda.org

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

Important announcement for survivors of ISIL crimes living in France and Germany and wanting to apply to the Yazidi Survivors’ Law

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:53:23 GMT

Important announcement for survivors of ISIL crimes living in France and Germany and wanting to apply to the Yazidi Survivors’ Law

Iraq, 03 December 2024

In March 2021, the Iraqi Parliament adopted the Yazidi [Female] Survivors’ Law (YSL) to provide reparations for survivors of ISIL crimes from the Yazidi, Shabak, Turkmen and Christian communities, with a particular focus on survivors of abduction and conflict-related sexual violence.

As part of the YSL application process, survivors have to file a criminal complaint in Iraq and provide investigative paperwork in their application. Today, more than 2,000 applications for reparations under the YSL have been approved. Yet, survivors who have resettled overseas face barriers returning to Iraq to obtain the investigative paperwork and apply to the law, preventing them from seeking reparations they are entitled to. A new pilot program initiated by the Iraqi General Directorate for Survivors’ Affairs (GDSA) seeks to overcome this obstacle; it will be tested in three European cities of Berlin, Frankfurt and Paris.

The GDSA, in cooperation with the Supreme Judicial Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that survivors who live abroad and want to apply for reparations under the YSL will be allowed to file a criminal complaint and provide their testimony via video-conference in Iraqi diplomatic missions in Berlin, Frankfurt and Paris.

With this decision, survivors living abroad may be able to pursue the criminal investigation process, obtain the investigative paperwork and apply to the YSL via the online portal without being required to return to Iraq.

Warning - Survivors who are seeking or who have protected status (including refugee or asylum status, or other humanitarian protection) are advised to confirm whether requesting services from the Iraqi Embassy or Consulate will negatively impact their protected status or future claims. Survivors are encouraged to consult with a lawyer or NGO specialized in refugee, asylum, and immigration law.

Procedures to obtain an appointment to provide testimony through the Iraqi Consulate or Embassy:

The GDSA has advised survivors to provide information to the GDSA by WhatsApp at: +964 751 100 2977. Survivors should send the following information in order to schedule an appointment at their preferred diplomatic mission:

• Full name of the survivor

• Mother’s name

• Date of birth

• Current residence address

• Phone number

• Selected diplomatic mission for the application (Frankfurt, Berlin, or Paris)

Disclaimer: It is still unclear if the entire YSL application process can be done remotely or if survivors will still be required to complete some of the application processes in Iraq, for example if certain evidence cannot be obtained remotely, or if the Committee requests an in-person interview. Furthermore, it is unclear how providing testimony through video conferencing would apply to witnesses, particularly if they are outside Iraq and residing somewhere other than France or Germany.

Yazda and Taboo will continue to provide updates as details about the process become clear.

Free legal support from Yazda:

Legal support is essential to ensure the application process is clear and survivors are well-prepared to apply, including survivors living abroad.

Yazda’s legal team offers free legal support for all survivors living in Iraq and abroad.

The support includes:

• Legal representation during all steps of the application or appeal process.

• Preparation of all required documents for the application or appeal process.

• Accompanying survivors at every step of the application or appeal process.

• Covering all costs related to the application or appeal process.

For free legal support, contact Yazda at:

+964 750 170 1544 (Call and WhatsApp)

Email: referrals@yazda.org

Read the full statement from Yazda and Taboo:

English

Arabic

French

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, Receives Yazda, Survivors and Advocates of the Yazidi Genocide at Her Residence for Nobody’s Listening Exhibition

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 07:27:11 GMT

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, Receives Yazda, Survivors and Advocates of the Yazidi Genocide at Her Residence for Nobody’s Listening Exhibition

Baghdad, 25th November 2024

The US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski received Thikran Mato, advocacy officer for Nobody’s Listening, advocate and survivor, Shireen Khero, and Natia Navrouzov, Yazda’s Executive Director during an event to showcase the Nobody’s Listening Virtual Reality (VR) experience to Ambassador Romanowski, Embassy Officials and guests at the Embassy on 13th November 2024.

The event sought to enhance awareness of the Yazidi genocide through technology-driven storytelling, with key stakeholders and esteemed guests attending and showing their support to communities affected by the genocide. This event marked the culmination of a series of Nobody’s Listening events in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to mark the 10th commemoration of the Yazidi genocide.

Throughout the projects in the past months, the VR experience was showcased at various prominent locations in Iraq, including The American University in Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB), Catholic University in Erbil (CUE), The Station, Red Terror Museum/Amna Suraka, Halabja Memorial, University of Duhok (UoD), and The General Directorate of Sports Education and School Activities. Over the past months, over 200 people have experienced the VR where it served as a platform for education, reflection, and advocacy, thanks to funding from the US Embassy in Iraq.

The Nobody’s Listening initiative was first launched in the Iraqi Parliament in 2020 and has since been showcased in schools and universities in the UK, United States, France, Germany, Luxembourg and elsewhere. This program is an innovative tool and demonstrates the transformative power of storytelling through cutting-edge technology in genocide education and prevention. By amplifying voices and raising awareness about the Yazidi genocide and the ongoing challenges they face, this initiative serves as a vital platform for advocacy and remembrance.

Ambassador Romanowski said, "This initiative does not just reflect the past but also shines an important light on the Yezidi people’s ongoing struggle for justice, accountability, and the safe return to their homes."

Yazda Executive Director, Natia Navrouzov commented: " Despite ISIL's territorial defeat in Iraq, little has been done to address the root causes of the genocide targeting the Yazidis. A recent example is the hate speech campaign that Yazidis faced this summer, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the genocide. This disturbing incident underscores how much progress is still needed. Education is a key approach to combating hate, and the Nobody’s Listening VR experience offers a powerful means to foster understanding and empathy."

Thikran Mato, Yazidi Survivor and Advocacy Officer with Nobody’s Listening, highlighted: "We were honored to present Nobody’s Listening at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., earlier this year and to showcase our VR experience in the U.S. Congress, as well as in schools and universities across the United States. We deeply appreciate the support of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, which has enabled us to extend this work throughout Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The impact of this program has been profound, and we hope the VR experience will be integrated into the Iraqi curriculum, ensuring that future generations bear witness to the history of what happened to the Yazidi community."

The event at the US Embassy in Baghdad signifies a momentous occasion, bringing together key stakeholders to reflect on the impact of the Nobody's Listening initiative and chart a path forward for continued support and solidarity with the Yazidi community.

###

To read this press release in Arabic, please click here .

To download the English version of the press release, please click here

For media inquiries, please contact:

Tonny Omondi

Media and Communications Coordinator, Yazda

e: tonny.omondi@yazda.org

For more information about Nobody’s Listening contact:

Ryan D’Souza

Director, Nobody’s Listening

e: ryan@nobodys-listening.com

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

About Upstream XR:

Upstream XR is an award-winning multimedia arts and Virtual Reality film company that brings its impactful work to audiences across the UK and around the world. Known for its thought-provoking and intellectually engaging content, Upstream XR is committed to advancing education and awareness for humanitarian and human rights causes on a global scale. The company's VR experiences have been recognized internationally for their social impact, influencing policy and legislation through presentations in key parliaments, including the U.S. Congress, the French Senate, the UK Parliament, and the Iraqi Parliament. By delivering immersive and educational experiences, Upstream XR continues to inspire action and dialogue on critical issues affecting communities worldwide.

About Nobody’s Listening:

Nobody's Listening is a groundbreaking Virtual Reality experience and immersive exhibition programme that commemorates the Yazidi genocide initiated by ISIS in the summer of 2014 in northern Iraq. Using cutting-edge Virtual Reality technology, photography and art, the exhibition explores the consequences of the genocidal campaign by ISIS – its devastating effect on persecuted communities and their cultural heritage. The Nobody's Listening Virtual Reality Experience was premiered at the Parliament of Iraq on 8th December 2020 and the Nobody's Listening Immersive Exhibition was launched at the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe on 1st October 2021. It has since travelled to Brussels (2022) University of Nebraska at Omaha (2023) and the US Institute of Peace (2023-2024). Satellite VR demonstrations have been held in the United Kingdom at Ministerial-level conferences on human rights and in schools and universities. Additionally, Google Arts and Culture has created an online Nobody's Listening exhibition. Nobody's Listening has been made possible with the generous funding of The State of Baden-Wurttemberg, USAID, the US State Department, the UK Home Office, the Mayor of London, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the US Institute of Peace. Nobody’s Listening is a partnership between Yazda and Upstream XR, curated and produced by Ryan D’Souza and Dijon Dajee.

For more information contact: info@nobodys-listening.com

Yazda Condemns Turkish Airstrikes in Sinjar and Calls for Protection of the Yazidi Community

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:41:29 GMT

Yazda Condemns Turkish Airstrikes in Sinjar and Calls for Protection of the Yazidi Community

November 11, 2024

Yazda strongly condemns the ongoing and recent Turkish airstrikes in the Sinjar region, which have exacerbated the suffering of Yazidi civilians. These attacks undermine the safety and stability necessary for the community's recovery, hinder the return of displaced Yazidis to their ancestral homeland, and increase the insecurity and instability in Sinjar and in Iraq.

The ongoing military operations pose significant risks to civilian lives and have, in the past, led to tragic losses, including the killing of children. Such incidents highlight the urgent need for all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and adhere to international humanitarian law and the three fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.

Many Yazidi survivors grapple with severe mental health challenges stemming from previous atrocities, violence, displacement and loss. Renewed violence disrupts the healing process and perpetuates a cycle of trauma, making it increasingly difficult for the community to feel safe, return and rebuild their lives. Turkish strikes and other national and regional geopolitical conflicts have affected the returning process of over 200,000 Yazidis to their homeland after more than 10 years of ISIS genocide.

Yazda urges respect for the sovereignty of Iraq, international law, and the fundamental right of its people to live in peace and security. We call upon the international community to facilitate a peaceful resolution that ensures the safety of the Yazidi population in Sinjar. We also renew our call upon the Iraqi government to stabilize the security situation in Sinjar and to centralize the various fighters and armed groups under the former Iraqi defense system

For a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by the Yazidi community, please refer to two of our recent reports:

● There is no future in Sinjar without safety and agency

● Ten Years After Genocide: The Yazidi Struggle to Recover and Overcome: published jointly with the Free Yezidi Foundation (FYF) and Sinjar Academy

Yazda remains committed to advocating for the rights, safety and well-being of the Yazidi community and all other communities in Sinjar and Iraq. We stand in solidarity with all those affected by the recent airstrikes and reiterate our call for peace, security, and the upholding of human rights in Sinjar.

###

For media inquiries, please contact:

Tonny Omondi

Media and Communications Coordinator, Yazda

e: tonny.omondi@yazda.org

An Arabic version of the statement is available here.

About Yazda:

Yazda is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that was established in 2014 in response to the genocide committed by the self-declared Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq. Yazda manages a portfolio of humanitarian, justice, advocacy, and development-related projects, all of which are community and survivor-centered in terms of design and implementation. Since its inception, Yazda has been working with local and international partners to provide humanitarian, accountability, and advocacy services to vulnerable minority groups in Iraq in their post-genocide recovery. The organization has been operating in Iraq since October 2014 and has main offices in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a branch office in Sinjar in Nineveh Province. Yazda is registered as a non-profit organization in the United States, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Over the past 8 years, Yazda has grown to employ around 80 staff on average, received support from numerous donors, both institutional and individual, and has reached tens of thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries through its programs and initiatives.

The Hasna A. Trial – The beginning of a landmark case in the Netherlands for crimes committed by a Dutch national against Yazidi women

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 14:21:22 GMT

The Hasna A. Trial – The beginning of a landmark case in the Netherlands for crimes committed by a Dutch national against Yazidi women

Iraq, 14 October 2024

Today, hearings began in The Hague on the substantive part of the Hasna A. case , a landmark trial in which a Dutch national is being tried for crimes against Yazidi women. Beyond its national significance, the trial also represents a pivotal moment in the global fight for justice and accountability for crimes committed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), over a decade after the start of the Yazidi genocide.

Hasna A. is facing charges for alleged membership in the terrorist group ISIL, for allegedly endangering her minor son by taking him to ISIL-controlled territory in Syria in 2015, and for slavery as a crime against humanity. The latter charge pertains to her alleged involvement in atrocities committed by ISIL against members of the Yazidi community in Syria. She is accused of enslaving two Yazidi women, identified as 'Z' and 'S,' who were allegedly forced into domestic servitude and tasked with caring for the accused's son.

The trial is being held in the Netherlands under secondary universal jurisdiction, which permits Dutch courts to prosecute serious international crimes, including genocide and crimes against humanity, even if the offenses were committed outside the country.

The trial is being conducted by the international crimes division of the District Court of The Hague, beginning on October 14, with key hearings also scheduled for October 16, and 17, 2024, at the Schiphol Judicial Complex (JCS). The proceedings will be open to the public, both in person and via livestream (though the registration deadline has passed), with simultaneous interpretation from Dutch to Kurmanji to accommodate the Yazidi community. This crucial step to make the trial accessible to Yazidi community members abroad, especially in Iraq, is commendable.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, commented: "This case is a significant step toward justice for Yazidi victims, survivors, and the Yazidi community as a whole, who suffered mass atrocities under ISIL. We commend the Dutch authorities for their tireless work and efforts. A decade after these crimes, universal jurisdiction cases, despite their importance, unfortunately remain the only available avenue for justice. We hope that the Netherlands' recent pledge to establish an ISIL tribunal will lead to concrete action and practical steps. On this difficult yet symbolic day, we also think of the two Yazidi women who are carrying this case, as well as their legal representatives, who have worked tirelessly over the past months."

For more information on the case, we encourage you to read the materials developed by the Yazidi Legal Network and the Nuhanovic Foundation .

###

To read this press release in Arabic, please click here .

To download this press release in English, please click here .

For media inquiries, please contact:

Tonny Omondi

Media and Communication Coordinator

e: tonny.omondi@yazda.org

About Yazda:

Yazda is a global community-led organization providing critical humanitarian assistance and promoting accountability and justice for the atrocities committed by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS, IS or by its Arabic acronym Da’esh, against the Yazidi community and other groups in Iraq. Yazda was established in 2014, three weeks after the genocidal campaign commenced in Sinjar, northern Iraq, and was among the first organizations on the ground providing lifesaving assistance to survivors. Yazda was the first actor to document Yazidi survivor accounts of crimes committed by ISIL.

www.yazda.org

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazda statement for the 10th commemoration of the attacks on Kocho village in Sinjar

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 06:18:13 GMT

Yazda statement for the 10th commemoration of the attacks on Kocho village in Sinjar

Iraq, 15 August 2024

Today, we pay tribute to and remember the village of Kocho, situated on the southern slopes of Sinjar Mountain. Once a vibrant community, Kocho became a symbol of unimaginable suffering following the atrocities committed by ISIL from August 2014. Like the rest of Sinjar, this village endured mass executions, severe violence, and relentless persecution, leaving deep scars on its people.

On August 3rd, 2014, as ISIL swiftly overtook other Yazidi villages in Sinjar, the siege of Kocho began. For 12 harrowing days, the residents of Kocho endured isolation and terror under the watchful yet inactive eyes of the Iraqi government, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the international community. On August 15th, 2014, ISIL gathered all the inhabitants in the village school, where they separated men and young male adolescents from women and children. The men and boys were brutally executed and buried in 17 mass graves throughout the village. The women and children were taken captive, subjected to torture, forced conversions, sexual violence, and enslavement. Additionally, a group of elderly Yazidi women from Kocho was executed in Solagh village. In 2023, the Yazidi Genocide Memorial was erected near their former mass grave to honor the memory of these women and all the victims and survivors of the genocide.

The attacks on Kocho were not merely an assault on a community but an assault on humanity itself. As we commemorate this tragic chapter, we remember the lives lost and the families torn apart. We honor the resilience and bravery of the people from Kocho and stand in solidarity with their efforts to recover and rebuild. Survivors from Kocho, both women and men, have been at the forefront of advocacy efforts, significantly advancing the Yazidi cause both nationally and internationally.

Yazda’s commitment goes beyond remembrance. We remain steadfast in our resolve to support the Yazidi community’s ongoing efforts for justice, recovery, and rebuilding. We acknowledge the deep scars left by these atrocities and pledge to advocate tirelessly for the protection of human rights and the prevention of future genocides. In honoring Kocho, we also recognize the broader need for solidarity and action to address the needs of displaced communities and to ensure that such horrors are never repeated.

For Arabic version of the press release please click here .

For media inquiries, please contact:

Farhad Ali, Media and Communication Officer

e: farhad.ali@yazda.org

###

About Yazda:

Yazda was established in 2014, three weeks after the genocidal campaign commenced in Sinjar, northern Iraq, and was among the first organizations on the ground providing lifesaving assistance to survivors. Yazda was the first actor to document Yazidi survivor accounts of crimes committed by ISIL.

www.yazda.org

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazda Honors Victims of the 2007 Terrorist Attacks on Tel Azer and Siba Sheikh-Khedir in Sinjar

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 14:21:29 GMT

Yazda Honors Victims of the 2007 Terrorist Attacks on Tel Azer and Siba Sheikh-Khedir in Sinjar

Iraq, 14 August 2024

Today, we solemnly remember the nearly 800 lives lost in the coordinated car bombings that struck the Yazidi communities of Tel Azer (Qahtaniyah) and Siba Sheikh-Khedir (Al-Jazeera) in Sinjar, northern Iraq, on August 14, 2007. This horrific event, which left over 1,000 more injured, stands as one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Iraq and a stark reminder of the longstanding persecution faced by the Yazidi people.

The bombings, executed with a fuel tanker and three vehicles loaded with explosives, caused widespread devastation. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble, and countless families were buried beneath the debris. As highlighted in a Yazda report published last year, these two villages were also among the first ones targeted by ISIL in its genocidal campaign of August 2014.

This tragedy underscores the ongoing vulnerabilities of the Yazidi community and highlights the critical need for effective governance and security in the Sinjar region as highlighted in a recent report published by Yazda. The persistent failure to address these issues leaves the Yazidi people exposed to continued threats of violence, deepening their suffering.

There is an urgent need for sustained and comprehensive measures to ensure the safety and security of Yazidi communities, preventing such atrocities from happening again. The recent rise in hate speech against Yazidis further illustrates this pressing need.

For Arabic version of the press release please click here .

For media inquiries, please contact:

Farhad Ali, Media and Communication Officer

e: farhad.ali@yazda.org

About Yazda:

www.yazda.org

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazda strongly condemns ongoing hate speech targeting Yazidis in Iraq

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 17:41:17 GMT

Yazda strongly condemns ongoing hate speech targeting Yazidis in Iraq

Iraq, 08 August 2024

Yazda is gravely concerned about the ongoing violent and disturbing campaign of hate speech and online violence committed against the Yazidi community, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide. Yazda has been monitoring the situation, documenting online violence, and is coordinating relevant national and international stakeholders, including the United Nations to ensure the situation is taken seriously and the safety of all communities is prioritized.

Yazda unequivocally condemns hate speech against any ethnic of religious group, including Muslims and Yazidis and stands firmly against extremism in all its forms. We are deeply concerned about the potential escalation of this situation.

Many members of the Yazidi community have reached out to Yazda out of fear of imminent attacks. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and push national and international actors to prioritize the safety of all communities in Iraq and in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government must tackle the root causes of the Yazidi genocide and ensure clear guarantees of non-repetition for the crimes committed against Yazidis and other groups.

For an Arabic version of the Press Release, please click here

For Badini version of the Press Release, please click here

For Sorani version of the Press Release, please click here

For media inquiries, please contact:

Farhad Ali, Media and Communication Officer

farhad.ali@yazda.org

About Yazda:

www.yazda.org

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Critical steps for Yazidi security and recovery in Sinjar outlined in new policy paper

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 10:42:17 GMT

Critical steps for Yazidi security and recovery in Sinjar outlined in new policy paper

Washington D.C., U.S. - July 30, 2024: Ahead of the 10-year commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide, taking place on August 3 in Sinjar , hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and survivors are still unable to return home. A new policy paper published by the Wilson Center, titled, “There is No Future in Sinjar Without Safety and Agency,” underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive security framework, a new governance model for the Sinjar Agreement, and accountability for material safety and a sustainable future for Sinjar’s historic communities.

Ten years since the start of the genocide by Da’esh against the Yazidis in Iraq, this ancient community that has called Sinjar, known as Shingal to its indigenous people in northern Iraq, home since the twelfth century, deserve to return to their land, homes, communities, and houses of worship. Yazidi men were massacred, and more than 3,000 women were enslaved and raped and many are still missing. Yazidi children were trained to fight for Da’esh. An entire community of faith was targeted and desecrated. Today, approximately 200,000 Yazidis remain displaced, predominantly in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The demographic shift in Sinjar has been drastic, with many villages seeing significant portions of their populations emigrating.

"I still vividly remember the eyes of a Yazidi mother survivor I met when I visited an IDP [internally displaced persons] camp in 2018 who did not know the fate of members of her immediate family,” said Ambassador Mark Green, President and CEO of the Wilson Center. “The level of humanitarian crisis around the world is a daunting challenge. The absence of security and protection is the leading reason for why large numbers of Yazidis are still trapped in IDP camps and will not return to Sinjar. When will they see justice and feel free and safe to return to their ancestral home?”

Co-authored by Yazda and the Zovighian Public Office and building on the findings of their first report with the Wilson Center released in September 2022, this paper provides an in-depth analysis of the ongoing security challenges and proposes actionable solutions. It highlights policy priorities for the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to bring proper community representation to the public administration of Sinjar, and to achieve sustainable socio-economic recovery and development. The editors, writers, and contributors collaborated in a Yazidi-led policy definition process, emphasizing the need for community-centered approaches to overcome current obstacles and implement lasting change.

Nadine Maenza, Global Fellow at the Wilson Center and the President of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Secretariat remarked, "Even after ten years of displacement, there is a path for Yazidis to return to their homeland of Sinjar, but only if they have safety and agency. We hope the launch of this report points the way forward so the Yazidi community can finally return with the dignity they deserve.”

The Sinjar Agreement was introduced by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in October 2020 in an attempted to pave the way for a sustainable future in Sinjar. However, Sinjari residents, activists, and local representatives were not invited as pertinent consultative stakeholders in the drafting of the Sinjar Agreement, reinforcing the feeling of exclusion from any critical decision-making processes. Consequently, Sinjaris have lost confidence in government stakeholders and have little hope for a sustainable future in their homeland.

“After ten years of genocide, we believe the International community, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, should listen to the Yazidis more closely, including the recommendations set forth in this report. We have seen how the Sinjar Agreement has failed to address the issues on the ground, and the major reasons are because it is both not practical and not co-created with the Yazidi community,” explained Murad Ismael, Founder of Sinjar Academy .

Sinjar has not enjoyed any recovery and reconstruction, unlike much of Iraq, with unexhumed mass graves remaining to be opened, ongoing security threats, and a lack of basic needs and services. Political inaction, disempowerment of local institutions, and ongoing hate crimes have further exacerbated the security crisis and created new levels of fear for the safety and survivorship of the community in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

“I don't believe the Sinjar Agreement has been written in a way that can work. We see many concepts and ideas from government officials, but very little substantive action. Iraq has an annual budget of $153 billion and our people live in tents for ten years. That says it all. Government stakeholders must allocate resources fairly to Iraqi citizens, including Yezidis, and must invest in the reconstruction of Yezidi towns and villages destroyed by ISIS in order for our community to live safely in Iraq,” explained Pari Ibrahim, Founder of Free Yezidi Foundation .

The paper details a roadmap to strengthen local public institutions together with security and law enforcement multi-stakeholder dialogue, commitments, and reforms, with nine solutions to bring proper community representation to the public administration of Sinjar. These include re-visiting the tenets of the Sinjar Agreement; establishing a multi-stakeholder and multi-community oversight body; enabling mechanisms for local governance; allocating direly needed funding; and hosting independent and fair elections for local community representatives.

“Security is also a prerequisite for justice in Iraq. Survivors will be willing to participate in trials only if both trust is rebuilt with the institutions and witness protection is made available. In a country where tribal relations are still very strong, survivors need to receive assurances that their participation in justice processes will not expose them to security risks and retaliation," explained Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director of Yazda Organization.

“As we hit ten years of genocide, displacement, and suffering, it is important for the United States government and our international stakeholders and allies to play a meaningful leadership role in ensuring that calls for the inclusive political representation and safety of the Yazidis and historic communities of Sinjar are not only heard, but also met,” highlighted co-author Lynn Zovighian, Founder of the Zovighian Public Office.

Government stakeholders, U.S. State Department Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain and former Congressman Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) also served a keynote speakers to underscore the urgent need for international action to support Sinjar and its historic communities.

###

About Wilson Center:

Chartered by Congress, the Wilson Center provides nonpartisan counsel and insights on global affairs to policymakers through deep research, impartial analysis, and independent scholarship. The Wilson Center is based in Washington D.C. and was named the #1 regional studies think tank in the world in 2019.

https://www.wilsoncenter.org

About Zovighian Public Office:
The Zovighian Public Office was established in 2015 to serve communities facing crises and crimes of atrocity by amplifying their voices through research, advocacy, and diplomacy.

www.zovighian.org

About Yazda:

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Farhad Ali, Media and Communication Officer

farhad.ali@yazda.org

Download English press release here .

For an Arabic version of the press release, please click here .

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazda, alongside other Yezidi civil society leaders, met with Secretary Antony J. Blinken

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 12:18:23 GMT

Yazda, alongside other Yazidi civil society leaders, met with U.S Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken

Iraq, 24 July 2024

Yazda is honored to have participated in a significant meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, alongside other Yazidi organizations and activists, including Sinjar Academy and Free Yazidi Foundation, to discuss the current situation of survivors of the genocide committed by ISIL and need for continued efforts and support.

During the meeting, Secretary Blinken highlighted the approaching ten-year commemoration of the genocide committed by ISIL, reflected on the United States' engagement during that critical time, and the substantial efforts made to protect and aid those who were endangered.

" We are here today ahead of the ten-year commemoration of the ISIS genocide against Yazidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims – genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing against these and other groups. I have very strong memories of that time, having served in the government when the attacks took place. I remember powerfully the suffering, the desperation of so many people, and the United States engagement to do everything we could to turn that around and to help protect those who were endangered ." - U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken

Natia Navrouzov, Yazda’s Executive Director, underlined the need for justice and accountability for the crimes committed against the Yazidis and other communities in Iraq, 10 years after the beginning of the genocide. In the context of UNITAD’s closure, and while core international crimes are yet to be integrated into Iraqi law, survivors and communities affected by the genocide are worried that justice will not be prioritized. Natia also talked about the importance of continuing and accelerating the search for the missing, with more than 2,600 kidnaped Yazidis who remain unaccounted for, and the urgency of exhuming all the remaining mass graves in Sinjar, identifying the remains and returning them to their families for dignified burials. She emphasized that these efforts should continue, even after UNITAD’s closure, with support of the international community and UN technical teams to the Iraqi forensic teams.

Natia Navrouzov commented: “ The U.S. was one of the first responders to the Yazidi genocide in 2014 and we are grateful that 10 years later, the U.S. publicly renewed their commitment to support our community. Together with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the support of the U.S. and the international community, we will work to find sustainable solutions for Sinjar and its people and ensure peace and stability. ”

Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of remembering and honoring the victims by sharing their stories and acknowledging the ongoing challenges faced by the affected communities. He mentioned the significant displacement caused by ISIS, which forced millions of Iraqis from their homes, including the majority of Iraq’s Yazidi population.

Secretary Blinken further noted: " We’ve worked hand-in-hand with civil society, with community leaders from across Iraq’s religious and ethnic components, to help these communities recover, to advance Iraq’s stability and sovereignty, and, of course, to do everything possible to make sure that ISIS cannot rear its ugly head again. "

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Farhad Ali, Media and Communication Officer

farhad.ali@yazda.org

For an Arabic version of the press release, please click here .

About Yazda:

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Ten Years After Genocide: The Yazidi Struggle to Recover and Overcome

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 10:01:09 GMT

Ten Years After Genocide: The Yazidi Struggle to Recover and Overcome

Iraq, July 24, 2024

Ten years ago, the Yazidi community faced unimaginable crimes. The genocide committed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) left deep scars, but Yazidis have shown incredible strength and resilience in their journey to heal, rebuild and demand justice and accountability.

Yazda, together with Sinjar Academy and Free Yezidi Foundation is publishing a Policy Paper which dives deep into the ongoing challenges faced by the Yazidi community, including protracted displacements, the lack of safety and guarantees of non-repetition, the reconstruction of Sinjar. It also underlines the remarkable efforts of the Yazidi community to recover and rebuild, 10 years after the beginning of the genocide.

This report is not just a recounting of the past but a call to action. It highlights the need for continued support, comprehensive transitional justice process and safety for the Yazidi community.

Together, we can help ensure a brighter future for the Yazidi community and all communities affected by ISIL genocide.

Read the full report here (pdf) in English

Read the full report here (pdf) in Arabic

For an Arabic version of the press release, please click here .

For media inquiries, please contact:

Farhad Ali,

Media and Communication Officer

farhad.ali@yazda.org

About Yazda:

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazda Newly Appointed Executive Director Confirms Her Commitment to Advocate for Challenges and Needs in First Podcast to the Global Yazidi Community

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:41:17 GMT

Yazda Newly Appointed Executive Director Confirms Her Commitment to Advocate for Challenges and Needs in First Podcast to the Global Yazidi Community

Iraq, 16 July, 2024

A few months into her term as Executive Director, after being elected by Yazda’s board , Natia Navrouzov recorded a podcast to provide the communities Yazda serves as well as stakeholders with key updates and messages, building upon her journey of service to vulnerable and minority communities:

Ongoing and worsening issues require continuous attention: Ten years after the start of the Yazidi Genocide, existential issues faced by the community are ongoing and are worsening , especially in light of the imminent end of the mandate of the UN investigative team ( UNITAD ) without a clear plan on how justice, accountability and exhumation processes in Iraq will proceed without UN support. 10 years after the beginning of the genocide, accountability for crimes committed by ISIL should remain a focus. This is why after the 10-year-mark, attention on the consequences of Da’esh / ISIL should remain a focus.
Need for a comprehensive, inclusive, and strategic transitional justice process to address the Yazidi genocide: Iraq, KRG and the international community need to engage in consultations with the Yazidi community, as well as other affected communities, to address the root causes of the crimes committed, provide reparations for all the crimes committed, uncover the truth, and put in place concrete guarantees of “Never Again”. Yazda will publish in August a report on transitional justice for Yazidi survivors and their families, highlighting the key demands of around 500 Yazidis surveyed on this topic.
Yazda’s institutional strategy for growth: As Yazda turns 10, its strategy and vision are being updated and expanded. As an increasingly women-led institution, Yazda is placing the needs of and support to Yazidi women and girls survivors who have been the primary victims of crimes of sexual and gender-based violence, at the center of its mission of service, while acknowledging that male survivors need equal attention and care. Strategically, Yazda will gradually shift its operations to Sinjar as people return back from the IDP camps, but remains committed to serving communities wherever they currently are based. Yazda remains committed to serving all groups affected by Da’esh / ISIL crimes, including Christians, Shias, Kakais, Shabaks, and others, notably by strengthening collaborative efforts with NGOs serving these communities and their needs. To achieve its objectives, Yazda will continue to collaborate with the Central Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the international community of allies and friends, including international agencies and embassies in Baghdad and Erbil.
Need for funding and access to resources: Yazda calls upon governments to not decrease their aid for community-led and -centered projects as many challenges and gaps remain. Yazda currently has offices in both Duhok and Sinjar and provides a wide range of services which need to continue.

“ Leading Yazda in such difficult times is a real challenge and I do not take this responsibility lightly. I wanted to record this podcast also for the community to get some answers, including on who I am and where I want to take Yazda in the coming years. Yazda remains an essential platform for the Yazidi community and we will continue to carry all its legacy but we also need support from all of our allies to be able to achieve our goals ” Natia Navrouzov commented.

To listen to the podcast, please click here .

For an Arabic version of the press release, please click here .

For media inquiries, please contact:

Farhad Ali, Media and Communication Officer

farhad.ali@yazda.org

About Yazda:

www.yazda.org

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Joint Statement on the Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:11:13 GMT

Joint Statement on the Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide

Iraq, 9 July 2024

This year, Yazda joins the community and 47 other Yazidi-led civil society organizations to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide in a unified event in Sinjar.

Yazda Executive Director, Natia Navrouzov commented: “We commend all the organizations involved in the event for coming together and having a unified voice to mark the 10th commemoration of the genocide. It is also important that the commemoration is held in Sinjar. We encourage all stakeholders to attend this event and see for themselves the current situation. If they cannot come for security reasons, how can they expect Yazidis to return?"

Below is the official press release and invitation to the commemoration which will be held on 3rd of August 2024 at the Yazidi Genocide Memorial site in Solagh, Sinjar:

[OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE]

To all governmental institutions, diplomatic and international missions, media agencies, and civil society organizations in Iraq:

While we are approaching the National Day of the Yazidi Genocide that has been approved by the Iraqi Parliament, which falls on the 3rd of August, when the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) committed genocide crimes, we are convinced that this anniversary is supposed to be a unique one. Although ten years have passed since those catastrophic events, everyone acknowledges the bitter reality. The genocide is still ongoing. The suffering, vulnerability and challenges that our people face is developing in a dramatic way and the obstacles are getting harder. It does not matter where our people are; in IDP Camps, Sinjar, or as refugees in any place worldwide, the plight is still the same.

In light of this, the Yazidi community –that is representing victims and their families, NGOs and Civil Society; cultural, religious, political, tribal, and social institutions – have made a common decision collectively:

We, all, are going to commemorate on August 3rd, 2024, in a unified manner, in one place at the Yazidi Genocide Memorial site in Sinjar. Because the Yazidis aim to convey a clear and unified message to Iraq and the international community.

Therefore, we call upon governmental, international, and local entities to join us in honoring the victims and listening to the Yazidi community’s unified voice from the place where the genocide was committed. Furthermore, we have decided not to organize any other ceremony or activity on the same day within Iraq, to give this commemoration the rightful expression of the Yazidi community in all its facets.

Signed by the Preparatory Commission of the 10th Anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide composed of the following organizations:

Sada Network for Supporting Survivors
Hope Givers Network for Supporting Survivors
Religious Leaders
Families of Victims of the Yazidi Genocide
Nabu Organization for Awareness
Sunrise Organization for Social Society Development
Farida Global Organization
Yazidi Survivors’ Network
Banan Foundation for Sustainable Development
House of Coexistence
Yazda International Organization
Nadia's Initiative Organization
Halat Organization for Relief and Development
Youth Bridge Organization
Sanabel Future for Civil Society Development Organization
Progress in Peace Organization
Yazidi Media Agency
KCM Media Agency
Ezidi 24 Media Foundation
Yazidi News Media Agency
Jilan Organization for Care and Rehabilitation
Sinuni Organization for Development
Warjin Foundation for Women and Media
Ciya Press Agency
Inhalation of Hope Organization
DAK Organization
Shingal Engineering Organization
We Are With You Organization
Jashein Foundation for Sustainable Development
Sinjar Women Platform
Sinjar Advocacy Team
Ezidi Millennium Organization
Hawar Help Organization
Naseem Sinjar Organization for the Care of People with Special Needs
Hope Makers for Women Organization
Petrichor Organization for Human Rights
Yofa Organization for Child Rights
Free Yazidi Foundation
Sinjar Academy
Yazidi Taakhi Organization
Heart of Sinjar Organization
The Way to Success Organization
Tolay Organization for Supporting Survivors
Doctors of Peace Organization
Yezidi Emergency Support Organization
Ghasin Alzaiton Organization
Basma Organization for Development
Step Organization
Sinjar Open Space Dialogue
Mirzo Music Foundation

[End of Press Release]

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Download Arabic Press Release

For media inquiries, please contact:

Farhad Ali

Media and Communication Officer

Yazda Organization

farhad.ali@yazda.org

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazidi genocide survivors demand justice during special session at Palace of Luxembourg in Paris

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 14:42:51 GMT

Yazidi Genocide survivors and organizations present challenges and needs in Sinjar.

Yazidi genocide survivors demand justice during special session at Palace of Luxembourg in Paris

Joint press release

A special session was convened at the Palace of Luxembourg in Paris for Yazidi survivors who escaped captivity to highlight their needs and calls for justice.
Calls for justice are still not being answered as Yazidi survivors grapple with the imminent closure of the United Nations Security Council-mandated investigative team, UNITAD, which has collected significant evidence of Da’esh crimes in Iraq.
Almost ten years since the start of the Yazidi Genocide, the needs of Yazidi women survivors are acutely underserved with insufficient efforts by international and national governments to offer sufficient support to heal and rebuild their lives.

French Senator Nathalie Goulet co-hosts special session on Yazidi Genocide.

Paris, France - June 24, 2024

Yazidi women survivors who escaped Da’esh captivity represented their community during a special session in Paris at the Palace of Luxembourg. The session was hosted by French Senator Nathalie Goulet with Yazidi community institution, Yazda, and the Zovighian Public Office .

“I am happy and honored to host the Zovighian Public Office and the Yazidi survivors of a 21st century genocide,” said Senator Nathalie Goulet, representing the French region of l’Orne, who co-organized this convening. Author of L’abécédaire du financement du terrorisme, Goulet investigated the financing schemes of Da’esh through the illicit smuggling of historic artifacts during their occupation of Sinjar, in Iraq.

400,000 Yazidi people were displaced from Sinjar by Da’esh in a genocidal campaign that began on August 3, 2014. While men were mass murdered and children were kidnapped and taken into militant training camps, girls as young as nine years old and women were captured and enslaved in sex trafficking and forced labor conditions.

“Almost 10 years after the start of the genocide, none of the issues faced by the Yazidi community have been fully addressed. We still have missing people, unexhumed mass graves, unidentified remains, no security in Sinjar, and no prospective for justice. We need to recenter the discussions around the genocide on concrete and long-term needs of the affected communities, and not just the priorities of states around countering-terrorism and national security. 10 years later, essential questions should be: why were Yazidis and other groups targeted in the first place and how can we ensure this does not happen again?” stated Natia Navrouzov, recently elected Executive Director of Yazda.

While over 3,000 women and girls were able to escape against all odds, around 2,600 women and girls are still held in captivity in Iraq, Syria, and other countries almost ten years later, with no proper institutionalized mechanism to search and rescue them. The recently established UN Independent Institution on Missing Persons (IIMP) in Syria has the potential to bring some answers for Yazidis who were abducted and sent to Syria.

“It is almost the 10th annual commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide, and so little has changed for our people. We still have not received justice,” said Manal Luqman Khalaf, a Yazidi survivor who spent one year in captivity before her escape. She is a member of the survivor-led Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN) established in February 2019 by Yazda to give female survivors an advocacy platform to express their needs and demands.

Yazidi survivors and Yazidi French community will continue their advocacy following this successful event.

Ten years later, many Yazidi women survivors are still seeking justice in a court of law. So far, there has been a lack of global judicial response to Da’esh crimes: only a handful of cases were prosecuted in Germany, although Da’esh militants were recruited from over 80 countries and millions of civilians in Iraq and Syria were affected. The only international mechanism established to collect evidence in Iraq, UNITAD, will prematurely close its mandate by September 17, 2024. Around two months to closing, and there is still no roadmap on how this evidence will be accessible to countries that are willing to prosecute Da’esh members for crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Furthermore, the calls of survivors to establish an international or hybrid tribunal continue to not be acknowledged.

“As conflicts continue in other regions, our suffering is often forgotten. Justice is important. We urge attention on the International Criminal Court and the establishment of a mixed court to hold Da'esh members accountable, regardless of their nationality,” said Yazidi survivor Nasrin Hassan Rasho, who was enslaved for two years before her escape. She is a member of the YSN and the Survivors Voice Network (SVN).

Many who have returned to their families now live in critical conditions in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Iraq with little to no access to medical, mental, and other healthcare services. Young girls who were reunited with their families as adults have not been able to finish their schooling or seek jobs or entrepreneurial opportunities. With no international systemic efforts to understand and address their many needs, Yazidi women survivors have never been so vulnerable and Yazidi families have never been so affected by trauma and loss.

A decade later, the lack of adequate security, infrastructure, and political support has left survivors and their families languishing in displacement camps, struggling to rebuild their lives amidst ongoing uncertainty and trauma. With diminished access to aid and funding as international agencies shift their attention towards other conflicts and areas of need, local organizations are finding it even harder to support the needs of affected families and survivors.

“Thousands of Yazidis remain displaced within Iraq even after 10 years. They endure difficult conditions without access to basic necessities. There are no work opportunities, and most are clinging to the hope of leaving Iraq to live a life of dignity and safety abroad,” said Yazidi survivor Shireen Khero Khudeeda, who is also a member of the YSN and SVN. She survived captivity after three years.

Today, the humanitarian crisis continues with thousands of Yazidis still displaced. Over 200,000 Yazidis remain in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. An estimated 160,000 Yazidis have left the country and the Middle East region.

“The international community has an indispensable responsibility to help Yazidi survivors achieve justice and rebuild their lives. Every woman deserves a life worth living,” said Lynn Zovighian, Founder of the Zovighian Public Office, which is committed to empowering survivors and communities facing crisis and crimes of atrocity.

Diplomats and advocates also experienced “Nobody’s Listening,” a virtual reality exhibition co-documented with Yazidi survivors, to see firsthand witness accounts of the destruction of Sinjar by Da’esh .

This session was made possible with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Zovighian Public Office .

[End of Press Release]

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Download English press release.
Download Arabic press release.
Download French press release.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Farhad Ali

Media and Communication Officer

Yazda Organization

farhad.ali@yazda.org

Yazda is a global community-led organisation providing critical humanitarian assistance and promoting accountability and justice for the atrocities committed by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS, IS or by its Arabic acronym Da’esh , against the Yazidi community and other groups in Iraq. Yazda was established in 2014, three weeks after the genocidal campaign commenced in Sinjar, northern Iraq, and was among the first organisations on the ground providing lifesaving assistance to survivors. Yazda was the first actor to document Yazidi survivor accounts of crimes committed by ISIL.

www.yazda.org

The Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN) was launched in February 2019 by Yazda as an advocacy platform for Yazidi survivors to express their challenges and needs. All members of the network have been trained on advocacy, transitional justice and ethical engagement with media. Over the past five years, members of the YSN members have engaged in high level advocacy with various stakeholders in the world and in Iraq.

The Zovighian Public Office was established in 2015 to serve communities facing crises and crimes of atrocity by amplifying their voices through research, advocacy, and diplomacy.

www.zovighian.org

Yazda welcomes the exhumation of the Alu Antar Well mass grave in Tal Afar

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Thu, 23 May 2024 17:06:02 GMT

Yazda welcomes the exhumation of the Alu Antar Well mass grave in Tal Afar

Press Release on the Alo-Antar Well mass grave

Duhok, 22, May 2024

Yesterday, the Iraqi national teams in charge of exhumations, the Mass Graves Directorate (MGD) and the Medico-legal department (MLD), with the support of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD) began exhuming the mass grave of Alu Antar Well in Tal Afar. This crucial step was taken following the endorsement by the Office of the Prime Minister's Adviser for Human Rights of an integrated plan to exhume this site.

According to an assessment made by Yazda in 2018, it is believed that this mass grave contains the remains of Yazidi men who disappeared after being initially taken by ISIL with their families to Kasar Al-Mihrab, Tal Afar. According to different sources interviewed by Yazda, it could contain the remains of 600 to 700 people, some of whom were executed before ISIL occupation by previous extremist groups. The total number of victims will only be confirmed once all remains are exhumed and identified.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda commented:

“We have been advocating for the exhumation of this specific mass grave for almost a decade. We believe that it will give answers and some closure to many Yazidi families but also to families from other communities. We commend Iraq for starting this process while UNITAD is still operating in the country. We also encourage the authorities to carry on exhumations after 17 September 2024 [date of UNITAD’s closure] in line with the highest standards and ensure that the knowledge and technology provided by the UN does not go to waste. Since the announcement of UNITAD’s closure, one of the main questions survivors have been asking us is ‘What is the plan moving forward for exhumations and who will support the technical teams to continue to exhume the mass graves?’ We hope that answers will be provided soon and that enough resources will be allocated to these teams.”

A Yazda team is present on site to support the process by compiling updates and by providing medical care to the Iraqi national teams. The exhumation of this site might take two months.

For inquiries about the opening of this grave and any other information, please contact the following number: +9647500384353.

For the Arabic version of the press release, please read here .

For media inquiries, please contact:

Farhad Ali

Media and Communication Officer

Yazda Organization

farhad.ali@yazda.org

[End of Press Release]

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300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazda and MGD Collaborate to Launch Blood Sample Collection Campaign in Tel-Afer

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Wed, 22 May 2024 08:25:53 GMT

The National Campaign for Collecting Information and Blood Samples

Duhok, 21 May 2024

The National Campaign for Collecting Information and Blood Samples

The specialized national team from the Forensic Medicine Department in Baghdad, the Martyrs Foundation, and the Department of Affairs and Protection of Mass Graves, in coordination with the International Committee on Missing Persons, will be collecting information and blood samples from the families of the missing persons in Tal Afar District, Nineveh Governorate. The national campaign will be held at the Tal Afar Youth Forum Hall in Al-Askari Neighborhood until 23/05/2024, the campaign will last from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

The National Campaign for Collecting Information and Blood Samples:

Location: Tel-Afer Youth Forum Hall in the Al’Askari Neighborhood in Tel-Afar.

Until May 23, 2024

Times: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Important Note: Visitors must bring their Iraqi ID or National Card exclusively.

For those interested in participating or seeking further information, call 07807171201 or visiting the designated collection site in Tel-Afer.

For the Arabic version of the Press Release, click here

For media inquiries, please contact:

Farhad Ali

Media and Communication Officer

Yazda Organization

farhad.ali@yazda.org

[End of Press Release]

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300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Highest German court confirms sentence in the first trial ever against an ISIS member for crimes against Yazidi victims

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 13:29:59 GMT

Highest German court confirms sentence in the first trial ever against an ISIS member for crimes against Yazidi victims

5 April 2024

Press statement by victim’s counsel Amal Clooney, Natalie von Wistinghausen and the NGO Yazda

Last month, the German Federal Court of Justice confirmed a German ISIS member’s 14-year prison sentence for crimes against humanity, war crimes and membership in a foreign terrorist organization.

The now 32-year-old ‘Jennifer W’ travelled to Syria in 2014 to join ISIS. Together with her then-husband – Iraqi national Taha A.-J. – she held a Yazidi woman and her 5-year-old daughter Reda as slaves in their home in Fallujah, Iraq, as part of ISIS’ brutal genocidal campaign against the Yazidis. The Yazidi captives were deprived of sufficient food, forced to follow Islamic rules, and subjected to almost daily beatings. The Yazidi girl ultimately died after the defendant’s husband tied her with a cable to the bars of the outside window and left her hanging there in the scorching heat of up to about 50 degrees Celsius. Although Jennifer W. could have intervened, she did nothing to save her life. Instead, the girl's mother was forced to watch her daughter die a slow death while she was held just metres away inside the house. After the NGO Yazda identified and interviewed the mother, Jennifer W. was put on trial in Germany, with the mother as the key witness. She was represented by a legal team consisting of German lawyers Natalie von Wistinghausen and Wolfgang Bendler and UK barrister Amal Clooney.

Jennifer W. was sentenced to a prison term of 14 years in August 2023. Last month, the defendant’s appeal against the sentence was rejected as ‘manifestly unfounded’ and the sentencing decision is now final.

Commenting on the final decision, Amal Clooney said: ‘The trial against Jennifer W. was the first trial anywhere in the world against an ISIS member for crimes against humanity and the first trial charging ISIS with crimes against Yazidis. This landmark case was made possible by the courage and determination of my client. Thanks to other Yazidi survivors who have also come forward, we have now seen 7 other ISIS members convicted of war crimes against Yazidis in German courts. These milestones are important. But 40,000 people from more than 80 countries joined ISIS, and there are thousands of victims of genocide still waiting for their day in court. It is time for an international court that can deliver this’.

Natalie von Wistinghausen, who represented the victim during the court hearings in Munich together with Wolfgang Bendler added that: ‘Nearly 10 years after her daughter’s death and after having herself terribly suffered in the accused’ and her husband’s household in Fallujah, justice is now finally achieved for our client. She can turn the page and focus on her life with her son, the only immediate family member who survived ISIS’ genocidal campaign against the Yazidis. Accountability is only one avenue on the way to some peace, but it is an important one’.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda, which is also represented by Amal Clooney, commented: ‘It took almost five years for this process to come to an end and we are satisfied with its outcome. This first trial worldwide of an ISIS member for crimes against Yazidis is historical and has a strong symbolic importance for the community. However, as we approach this year the 10 ^th commemoration of ISIS attacks on Yazidis and other groups, we are very concerned to see that the sole justice avenue available for ISIS survivors are national proceedings which depend on the hard work and readiness of a small group of survivors, NGO workers, lawyers, investigators and prosecutors. Ten years later, there is still no holistic and global response to the crimes of one of the most violent terrorist groups in modern history; worse, the only hope for meaningful justice represented by the evidence collection efforts funded by the international community itself through an UN investigative mechanism (UNITAD) is now quietly being dissolved, with no real perspective of what is next and what will happen to the evidence’.

Yazidi Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad, who is herself a survivor of enslavement and torture at the hands of ISIS, commented: ‘Each conviction of an ISIS member offers a renewed sense of hope to survivors of ISIS atrocities, signalling that justice is possible. As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide, I urge the international community and UN member states to establish an international tribunal capable of conducting trials on a larger scale’.

Background

In June 2018, the defendant was arrested when she was back in Germany but attempting to leave the country to return to Syria. She was intercepted by an undercover agent working for the German federal police who recorded her discussing the death of her ‘sabiya’ (a term used by ISIS to refer to Yazidi ‘slaves’). But it was not until Reda’s mother was identified and located in Iraq by the NGO Yazda that prosecutors had their key witness. Yazda has collected thousands of testimonies from Yazidi survivors to document ISIS’ crimes and had interviewed her two years prior to the start of the trial. She confirmed the death of her daughter in the hands of the ISIS couple and participated in the proceedings against Jennifer W. and the separate trial against her ex-husband Taha A.-J. as a co-plaintiff and the key witness at trial.

In October 2021, the Higher Regional Court of Munich sentenced Jennifer W. to 10 years in prison. Following the Federal Public Prosecutor's appeal, the defendant’s sentence was overturned in March 2023 on the grounds that the lower instance court erred in qualifying the enslavement resulting in death as a ‘less serious case’ of crimes against humanity – a legal qualification that had resulted in a reduced sentence. Moreover, the appeal court found that the lower instance court had not taken into account the aggravating circumstances, including the ‘inhuman motives and goals’ of the defendant who by enslaving Reda and her mother ‘deliberately furthered ISIS’ policy, which aimed to destroy the Yazidi religion and the enslavement of the Yazidi people’. Similarly, the fact that after Reda’s death, Jennifer W. held a gun to the grieving mother and threatened to shoot her if she did not stop crying needed to be considered as an aggravating factor.

The case was referred back to the lower instance court which sentenced Jennifer W. to an extended 14-year term. This is the sentence that has now been confirmed, without the possibility of further appeal.

Note to editors:

From August 2014, the Yazidi community in Iraq and Syria was targeted by ISIS through a campaign of executions, enslavement, sexual violence, and forced recruitment of child soldiers, as well as the forced displacement of an estimated 400,000 Yazidis from their homeland in Iraq. Nealy 10 years after ISIS’ attack, thousands of Yazidi women and children who were abducted and enslaved by ISIS remain missing. These crimes have been recognized by the United Nations, national and international bodies and, more recently, German courts as amounting to genocide.

German courts have convicted three ISIS members of genocide for their crimes against the Yazidis. The judgment issued by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt in November 2021 (and confirmed by the German Federal Court of Justice) against Jennifer W.’s ex-husband, Iraqi national Taha A.-J., represents the first conviction of an ISIS member for genocide anywhere in the world. A second genocide conviction followed in July 2022 against German ISIS returnee Jalda A. and a third conviction was issued against German ISIS returnee Nadine K. in June 2023. Additionally, five ISIS members have been convicted of crimes against humanity and war crimes for their involvement in ISIS’ crimes against the Yazidis in six cases. These are the cases against Jennifer W., Sarah O. , Nurten J. , Omaima A. (who faced two separate trials) and Romiena S. Ms. Clooney, Ms. von Wistinghausen and Ms. Mehner, represented Yazidi victims in these cases.

Unofficial English translations of some of the publicly available judicial decisions can be found in Eurojust’s database on national jurisprudence on core international crimes. Case summaries are also available in the Case Law Database on International Criminal Law in Germany which was recently launched by the International Criminal Law Research Unit at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.

Under German law, victims of grave crimes have the right to participate in criminal proceedings as ‘co-plaintiffs’ alongside the prosecution and defence. For her safety, the victim’s identity is not being revealed.

German law normally also does not permit disclosure of defendants’ full surnames. The defendant is therefore identified as ‘Jennifer W.’ throughout this statement.

For the Arabic version of the Press Release, click here .

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300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazda welcomes the publication of a milestone report by C4JR outlining recommendations for criminal accountability concerning ISIL crimes in Iraq in light of Iraq’s request to terminate UNITAD’s manda

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:27:17 GMT

The release of this crucial report follows the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution to extend the mandate of the Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL ( UNITAD ) only until September 2024 ( UNSC resolution 2697/2023 ). The report reflects the concerns and recommendations of Iraqi NGOs and survivors' networks.

Yazda, a member of the Coalition for Just Reparations ( C4JR ), joined an alliance of Iraqi NGOs in calling for comprehensive reparations for survivors of atrocity crimes perpetrated during the ISIL conflict in Iraq. In September 2023, prior to the passing of resolution 2697 by the UNSC, Yazda led the publication of a statement endorsed by 50 organizations expressing concerns about the imminent closure of UNITAD. Subsequently, within C4JR, Yazda facilitated consultations with NGOs online and in person, ensuring that their feedback was communicated to the UN, particularly in preparation for the UN Secretary-General's report released in January 2024 on Iraq’s request to receive UNITAD’s evidence. In parallel, Yazda consulted survivors’ networks, including Hope Givers, Survivors Voice Network (SVN), Speicher-1700 NGO, and the Yazidi Survivors Networks (YSN), incorporating their perspectives into the report.

Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director at Yazda and co-author of the report, comments: “The report, especially its concrete recommendations, is a testament to the deep knowledge of Iraqi civil society on issues of justice and the lack thereof in Iraq. Iraqi organizations are the experts and should not be ignored. We advocated for the creation of UNITAD but were not involved in its termination. To this day, we have not been presented with a clear strategy from Iraq and the international community regarding the fate and more importantly, the use, of the evidence collected by UNITAD and what comes next. While UNITAD’s completion roadmap, due on 15 March 2024, may provide some answers, we were not meaningfully consulted on it either. Moving forward, we want to be part of the conversation and of the solution.”

For the Arabic version of the Press Release, click here .

For any inquiries, please contact info@yazda.org

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300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazda Announces new Executive Director

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 10:10:54 GMT

26 February 2024

Yazda is pleased to announce the appointment of Natia Navrouzov as its new Executive Director. Natia’s selection underscores Yazda’s enduring commitment to the communities affected by ISIS atrocities, placing them at the core of our mission. Her appointment also reaffirms Yazda’s dedication to gender equality and women’s empowerment, as Natia will bolster our gender-responsive planning and engagement efforts.

Natia Navrouzov brings a wealth of experience as a French-qualified lawyer specializing in international law, human rights, and transitional justice. As a member of the Yazidi community, Natia has been instrumental in Yazda's initiatives since joining in 2018. She holds various positions within the organization, including Project Manager and Interim Country Director. In 2021, she was appointed as Yazda’s first Legal Advocacy Director. Under her leadership, Yazda collected testimonies of ISIS survivors and documented evidence from crime sites, and collaborated with international and national bodies, including the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability Against Da’esh Crimes (UNITAD), national war crimes units and the Office of Amal Clooney. Notably, her leadership played a key role in the conviction of several ISIS members in Germany, including for genocide against Yazidi victims. In 2019, Natia supported a group of Yazidi female advocates to establish the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN) and campaigned with them for the passing of the Yazidi Survivors Law until its adoption in March 2021.

Before joining Yazda, Natia worked for a globally recognized law firm specializing in International Public Law and International Arbitration in Paris, as a Research Assistant at the London Court of Arbitration, and Assistant Lecturer at the Université of Panthéon-Sorbonne in Paris. Admitted to the Paris Bar, Natia holds a dual bachelor's degree in German and French Law from the University of Cologne (Germany) and Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (France); she holds Master’s degrees in International Law from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and Columbia University (USA), where she graduated as a Human Rights Fellow and Fulbright scholar, and was awarded the Davis Polk Fellowship. Natia is also an Obama Foundation Leader.

Natia commented: “It is an honor for me to have been appointed as Yazda’s first female Executive Director. To me, Yazda is not just an organization but a beacon of hope for Yazidis and other minorities, who have endured countless persecutions over generations. With the help of my team and our various supporters, I am ready to take Yazda to the next level and strengthen our collaboration with Iraqi and international stakeholders, and, of course, with affected communities, especially survivors, who will remain at the center of our focus.”

We also regretfully announce the departure of Haider Elias from Yazda. Haider was one of Yazda’s founders and served as its President for more than nine years. He will work with us to ensure a smooth transition until 31 March 2024, when he will move on to new challenges and opportunities. Yazda expresses profound thanks to Haider and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

With Natia leading the way, we are eager to embark on this new chapter and elevate our partnerships to unprecedented heights, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

Sincerely,

Yazda Board of Directors

For any inquiries, please contact info@yazda.org

For the Arabic version of the Press Release, click here .

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300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Statement by Yazda on the Burial Ceremonies of 41 Yazidi Victims of Hardan, Kocho and Qney villages

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 15:53:14 GMT

22 January 2024

Ceremonies in Baghdad, Solagh and the three villages (Hardan, Kocho and Qney)

On 22 January 2024, under the auspice of the Office of the Prime Minister and in the presence of Iraqi and international officials and Yazidi community members, a funeral will be held in Baghdad following the identification of 41 Yazidi victims from Hardan, Kocho and Qney. Following this national-wide ceremony, the remains of the victims will be taken to Sinjar where a local-led ceremony will be organized on 24 January 2024, at the recently inaugurated Yazidi Genocide Memorial in Solagh. During this ceremony, Yazidi religious rituals will be performed.

The remains of the victims will be then handed over to their families to allow them to bury them in their respective villages of Hardan, Kocho and Qney. From 24 to 26 January 2024, mourning days will be observed in these three villages and members of the community will be able to visit and pay their respects.

The return of the sixth batch of remains and ongoing exhumations

The identification of the remains was carried out by the Iraqi Medico-Legal Department (MLD) of Iraqi Ministry of Health, with the assistance of the UN Investigative Team for Accountability of Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP).

The UN-supported exhumation process in Sinjar started in March 2019 and is ongoing. So far, around 60 mass graves have been exhumed and around 20 still need to be opened. The mass graves in Kocho and Solagh were the first ones to be exhumed from March 2019, followed by Hardan in February 2022 and Qney in June 2022 .

This is believed to be the sixth batch of remains of Yazidi victims to be returned to Sinjar and a total of 41 victims were identified. Previously, remains have been returned mainly to Kocho and Solagh and the identification process is still ongoing.

Support provided by Yazda and partners

As for previous ceremonies, Yazda and other organizations will accompany Yazidi community members during this extremely sensitive time. Yazda has been coordinating the process over the past months with the national authorities and members of the community as well as partners from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNITAD and Nadia’s Initiative which will be present to provide support during the ceremonies.

From its side, Yazda will deploy different teams to the burial sites. Yazda’s Case Managers will be present to provide psychological support and Yazda’s Mobile Medical Unit will provide medical assistance to the community where needed. Yazda’s Documentation Team will film the official speeches, report on the ceremonies and interview the authorities and partners, including members of the MLD and representatives of UNITAD and ICMP. The community will be invited to provide feedback on the process and report any concerns.

Yazda’s Investigation Coordinator and focal point for the event, Ismail Qasim comments: “We have been supporting the process of exhumations over the past 5 years at least and it is far from being done. The crime scenes left by ISIL are countless and necessite joint efforts from all stakeholders involved, including internationals. Therefore, it is crucial that Iraq continues its collaboration with entities such as UNITAD to support the affected communities to recover the remains and bury them in a dignified way."

Yazda presents its condolences to all the affected families as well as the wider Yazidi community and reiterates its commitment to work tirelessly in the pursuit of justice and the truth.

For the Arabic version of the Press Release, click here .

French Supreme Court’s decision of 16 January 2024, on the indictment of the Lafarge company

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 16:46:02 GMT

Yazda welcomes the decision rendered on the 16 ^th January, 2024, by the Cour de Cassation, the French Supreme Court, confirming the indictment of Lafarge, now Holcim, for complicity in crimes against humanity.

This decision echoes the landmark ruling in this case rendered in September 2021 , which held that any person can be indicted as an accomplice to crimes against humanity, if it knowingly provided support to the perpetrator of such crimes, even in the absence of intent to associate oneself with the commission of their crimes or to adhere to their criminal projects.

With this new decision by the Cour de Cassation, the victims of the Syrian and Iraqi conflict are a step closer to justice for the horrors inflicted upon them by ISIS and other terror groups. This decision validates the gravity of the allegations against Lafarge and sends a strong signal that corporations must be held accountable for their actions, especially when they may contribute to crimes against humanity.

“Yazda reiterates its commitment to seeking justice for the Yazidi community and other victims of ISIS. As a civil party in the Lafarge case, Yazda will continue to actively participate in the legal proceedings, in the pursuit of truth and accountability,” commented Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director at Yazda.

“This decision constitutes a significant milestone in these critically important proceedings, which will serve as a landmark for corporate accountability for international crimes. Despite numerous attempts by the defendants to obtain the dismissal of the charges of complicity of crimes against humanity on technicalities, we are now one step closer to having this case heard by a trial court and decided on its merits”, commented Luke Vidal, counsel for Yazda.

For the Arabic version of the Press Release, click here .

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300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Completion of exhumations of mass graves in the intersection of Jidala near Tel-Azer and in the Siba Sheikh Kheder and Tel-Banat villages

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 08:03:38 GMT

Iraq, 10 November 2023

From 15 to 28 October 2023, the Iraqi national team in charge of exhumations, the Mass Graves Directorate (MGD) opened, with the support of UNITAD, ICMP and CIGE, a total of 12 mass graves in the intersection of Jidala-Tel-Azer as well as in Siba Sheikh Kheder, and Tel-Banat villages.

Mass graves in Tel Azer

From 15 October 2023, the national team started to exhume mass graves in the Jidala intersection near Tel-Azer. These mass graves are known as the “Mahmoud Khro” sites because they are in and close to the house and farm of the family of the same name. Yazda documented these sites in June 2017 and again in 2021. A direct witness to the events described how the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) executed male members of the family before enslaving the women and children. Other people from Tel Azer explained that while they were fleeing ISIL towards the mountains, they stopped at Mahmoud Khro’s family house to rest and drink water. Some of them might have been captured and executed there as well.

Mass graves in Siba Sheikh-Khider

On 18 October 2023, the forensic team, with support of UNITAD and ICMP, moved to exhume mass graves in the village of Siba Sheikh-Khider. Along with Ger Zarek, Siba Sheikh-Khider was the first Yazidi village to be attacked by ISIL. Yazda documented the sites in June 2021 and spoke to witnesses who explained how many were killed because they either tried to flee or tried to fight back.

Yazda report on Ger Zarek, Siba Sheikh-Khider and Tel Azer

In August this year, Yazda published a report entitled From Resistance to Rubble: The Stories of Ger Zarik, Siba Sheikh-Kheder and Tel Azer to highlight the complexity of the Yazidi genocide and the systematic and widespread attacks ISIL has committed. Yazda had also identified and documented mass graves, execution sites and captivity sites in all these villages.

These locations were selected for the report as they were the first majority-Yazidi villages in Sinjar targeted by ISIL and Yazda welcomes the exhumations in two of these villages as an important step in securing justice for the Yazidi community. The process allows families of the victims to get some closure once identification of remains is successfully carried out. The mass graves in Ger Zarek were exhumed last year .

Yazda had deployed its documentation team as well as its Mobile Medical Unit and case management team to support the community in this difficult moment. Yazda remains available to answer questions and to make the link with the authorities.

For the Arabic version, click here .

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300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

ICMP and Yazda Global Organization Sign Memorandum of Understanding

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 14:22:46 GMT

Iraq, 31 October 2023 : – The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) and Yazda Global Organization, a prominent community-led NGO that works to provide humanitarian aid and justice to survivors of Da’esh, particularly the Yazidi community, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing cooperation to support families of missing persons in Iraq.

The MoU prioritizes joint initiatives, including providing assistance to an Iraqi government-led reference sample collection campaign designed to identify human remains exhumed from mass graves. Both parties will also work to ensure that the families of the missing are fully informed about their rights to truth, justice, and reparations.

ICMP Director-General Kathryne Bomberger said today's MoU “underscores our collective mission to come together and assist families of the missing. The search for missing persons is a state obligation and a state-led activity, but it must have families at its core.” She expressed confidence that the ICMP-Yazda collaboration “will be immensely valuable to survivors and their communities.”

Yazda President Haider Elias said the MoU would strengthen the cooperation that already exists between the two organizations and that “Resolving the issue of missing people remains the most important priority for the Yazidi community, with thousands of families still torn apart. Together, we can work towards ensuring that missing people return and that human remains in mass graves are exhumed, identified, and restored to families with dignity.”

Today’s MoU is a significant step forward in the continuing effort to secure justice for families of the missing in the region.

About ICMP

ICMP is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization with Headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. Its mandate is to secure the cooperation of governments and others in locating missing persons from conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration, and other causes and to assist them in doing so.

About Yazda

Yazda is a global community-led organization providing critical humanitarian assistance and promoting accountability and justice for the genocide and other international crimes committed by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidi community and other groups. Yazda was established in 2014, three weeks after the genocidal campaign commenced in Sinjar, Northern Iraq, and leads advocacy and strategic projects in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains (Iraq), as well as global diaspora hubs.

For the Arabic version of the Press Release, click here .

Contact ICMP

Contact Yazda

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300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazda releases a survivor-informed Guide on interviewing Yazidis from Sinjar

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:06:49 GMT

Iraq, 29 September 2023

Since the beginning of the genocide in Sinjar in August 2014, members of the Yazidi community, especially survivors of ISIL captivity have been interviewed countless times by multiple actors and for a variety of reasons, including to document their testimonies, implement projects, conduct research, write media and academic articles, or produce documentaries.

Even when done with good intentions, such engagements can have a negative impact on survivors and their quest for justice, recovery, and healing. Over the years, members of the Yazidi community have shared with Yazda stories of unsatisfactory or even traumatizing interactions. These experiences have contributed to lower levels of trust in interviewers and have led to ‘interview-fatigue’ among some members of the Yazidi community from Sinjar, Iraq.

While there are many general guidelines on best practice standards for interviewing survivors of grave human rights and humanitarian law violations, none is specifically tailored to prepare interviewers for their interactions with survivors of the Yazidi community from Sinjar. Yazidi survivors themselves have indicated to Yazda that they have seen little effort in addressing the knowledge gap of stakeholders in dealing with them.

To fill this gap, Yazda releases the “Get To Know Me First” Guide. It is a survivor-informed document which provides practical guidance on how to engage with Yazidi survivors from Sinjar in a culturally safe and trauma-informed way. Its content draws from experiences of Yazidis from Sinjar themselves, including survivors, those who are daily interacting with them or are planning to do so, and Yazidis with deep knowledge of their history, culture and religion.

The Guide can be useful to anyone engaging with Yazidi survivors but has been specifically designed to support stakeholders who conduct interviews with Yazidis as part of their mandate to promote accountability and transitional justice related processes, including UN mechanisms and law enforcement agencies, international and national organisations delivering projects targeting the Yazidi community, and journalists, filmmakers and academic researchers.

The Guide is divided into three parts, reflecting each stage of interaction with survivors: before, during and after the interview. For each of these stages it provides advice, practical examples, photos and a map, and directs the reader to further resources.

As we approach the 10 ^th year commemoration of the Yazidi genocide, engagement with Yazidi survivors must be done with at least a basic understanding of their conception of the world as well as their past and current struggles. This understanding is even more essential due to ISIL’s targeting of Yazidis stemming from profound misconceptions about their religion and culture, and systematic discrimination.

Yazda can provide tailored capacity-building workshops on the Guide to transitional justice actors. Any question, comment, or request for Yazda’s assistance can be sent to documentation.project@yazda.org .

Read the Guide here .

An Arabic version of the Guide will be available on Yazda’s website soon.

Download the Press Release here .

For the Arabic version of the Press Release, click here .

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director

e: natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

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300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

YAZDA Tendering for purchasing a bus in Sinune

web@yazda.org (Ahmed Burjus) — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 14:21:55 GMT

YAZDA Tendering for purchasing a bus in Sinune

Title of assignment:Vehicle Bus 24-seater diesel
Type of assignment:Purchase agreement
Tender Location:Yazda Office Duhok, Iraq
Tender Publish Date:31-August 2023

Question Deadlines:10 ^th of September 2023

Tender Submitting Deadline:13-September 2023 at 16:00 ( Iraq Local time )
Offer Submission:Only hard Copy of the Offer is accepted to YAZDA Office in Duhok > Yazda – KRO, Pakiza Street Duhok office, Iraq
Email for inquiries: logistics.manager@yazda.org
or Contact Number: 009647503244610

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Founded in 2014 at the onset of the genocide perpetuated by Da’esh , also known as Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidis, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity against other minorities, Yazda leads advocacy and strategic projects in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains, as well as global diaspora hubs.

The prosecution of ISIS members following the UN Security Council vote on UNITAD

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 14:09:29 GMT

18 September 2023

On 15 September 2023, at the request of the Government of Iraq, the UN Security Council took a step backwards in the pursuit for justice for ISIS by adopting resolution 2697 (2023). The resolution ends the mandate of United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL’s (UNITAD) in one year, on 17 September 2024. It also requests a report from the UN Secretary-General in January and a road-map for termination from UNITAD in March 2024.

This abrupt decision was taken without consultation with any ISIS survivors, despite the statement made on 12 September by a group of 48 international and Iraqi human rights groups that warned of the dangers of such a move and a similar statement by Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad and her counsel Amal Clooney on the same day.

UNITAD was created by the Security Council to ensure that evidence of ISIS’ crimes could be gathered on the ground in Iraq. It was clear at the time that this evidence-gathering was intended to be a first step, to be followed by prosecutions. At the Council session at which resolution 2379, creating UNITAD, was adopted, the representative of Sweden “welcomed the adoption of today's resolution, which is an important first step towards holding those responsible for the atrocities carried out by Daesh to account”. The ambassador of the US noted that “today's resolution is a … major first step towards addressing the ... crimes that include genocide”. France agreed that “this contribution by the Security Council to justice….must serve as a first step”. And the UK, which held the pen on the draft, promised that although “bringing Daesh to justice will take time…patience and resolve”, justice should be delivered because “we owe it to those who have suffered to press ahead, however long the road might be”.

Yet in a session that took less than 20 minutes on Friday, the Security Council ended UNITAD’s mandate. Instead of clarifying how the evidence collected by UNITAD will now be used to prosecute ISIS for genocide and crimes against humanity, the Security Council has limited the prospects of justice. Comments by states after the vote highlighted that UNITAD has given survivors the ‘opportunity’ to provide their testimony – but what is the point in them doing so, sometimes at great risk, if it is not to be used to convict those responsible for abusing them?

UN Security Council resolution 2170 (2014) , passed under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, calls on states to “bring to justice, in accordance with applicable international law, foreign terrorist fighters of, ISIL”. But the Council itself has now made it more difficult for them to do so. To date Germany’s courts have been the only ones to bring ISIS to justice for international crimes – including the only three trials anywhere in the world in which an ISIS fighter has been convicted of genocide. So far Iraq has not recognized the jurisdiction of the ICC nor reformed its laws to criminalize genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. Trials of ISIS figures in Iraq have been considered by the UN to violate international standards. And because Iraq applies the death penalty in such trials, UNITAD is prevented from sharing its evidence with Iraq under applicable UN rules . Survivors have also frequently shared their distrust in a purely national process.

The UN Secretary-General was requested “to submit to the Security Council, no later than 15 January 2024, a report setting out recommendations for implementing this request with full respect for the sovereignty of Iraq”. In our view, it is imperative that the UN make clear that:

- Survivors will be consulted, and their views taken into account in developing the report;

- Any evidence-sharing with Iraq will be in line with UNITAD’s Terms of Reference and applicable UN rules;

- Notwithstanding Iraq’s involvement in determining ‘modalities’ for evidence-sharing under the new resolution, cooperation with third states should continue in UNITAD’s final year in conformity with the terms of resolution 2379 and the Terms of Reference;

- Any evidence-sharing with any entity must fully respect the terms of the consent (or otherwise) provided by each victim or witness; and

- The UNSC should convene an urgent session in early 2024 to discuss the use of the evidence gathered by UNITAD including before an international court that can prosecute ISIL members for international crimes, as proposed by survivors and their counsel including in previous addresses to the Security Council.

It is regrettable that the Security Council has taken this step away from justice. The process can be salvaged – but only if states make this a priority.

Natia Navrouzov Amal Clooney

Yazda Counsel to Yazda

Download the Statement here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

This statement is open to endorsements.
Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director
Please email: natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Concerns about the non-renewal of UNITAD’s mandate in Iraq

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 17:32:48 GMT

Iraq, 12 September 2023

We, the undersigned organizations, have been made aware of highly concerning news that the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL’s (UNITAD) mandate may not be renewed in Iraq beyond September 2024.

UNITAD was mandated pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 2379 to collect, preserve, and store evidence of ISIL crimes in Iraq in line with the highest possible standards. UNITAD was established following the tireless advocacy of survivors and several of the undersigned organizations, and in response to the scale of ISIL crimes. This advocacy was aiming to ensure that evidence of ISIL crimes would not get lost until a holistic strategy from both Iraq and the international community would be in place to address ISIL crimes. This has yet to happen.

UNITAD began operating in Iraq in the fall of 2018 and has in the past five years made significant progress including collecting thousands of pieces of evidence, interviewing survivors from all Iraqi communities, supporting national prosecutions in third countries, and substantially supporting exhumations of mass graves all over the country. UNITAD has also strengthened the capacity of Iraqi authorities and Iraqi civil society, including some of the undersigned organizations.

Many survivors and the undersigned organizations see UNITAD as the only hope to achieve meaningful justice in Iraq. For its work to stop so abruptly, when not a single ISIL member has been tried in Iraq for core international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes), would be a disaster for survivors, Iraq, and the international community. It would send the signal that justice is not a real priority, that trust with survivors was built for nothing and that their testimonies and continuous calls for justice were in vain.

This news is all the more alarming since Iraq currently has no legal framework in place to use UNITAD’s evidence and also has no experience prosecuting international crimes. Furthermore, Iraq has not communicated any plan or strategy on how it is planning to move this process forward without UNITAD’s expertise. Nor has Iraq recognized the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court or responded to detailed proposals submitted by survivor groups to establish a hybrid tribunal to prosecute ISIL members for international crimes.

For the reasons above, UNITAD must continue to operate because Iraq alone is currently not in a position to achieve meaningful justice for survivors. Survivors have also repeatedly highlighted that they would not trust a purely national process and called for appropriate international involvement.

We, the undersigned organizations, call upon Iraq, the UN Security Council, and the international community to:

- Renew UNITAD’s mandate beyond September 2024 and as long as it is needed.

- Prepare a strategy to prosecute ISIL crimes holistically both in Iraq and other jurisdictions.

- Support Iraq in adopting a legal framework to prosecute core international crimes and to establish a survivor-centered mechanism which would allow for such prosecutions.

- Ensure that UNITAD supports Iraq in the prosecution of ISIL crimes in Iraq until Iraq is able to follow fair trial rights and implement a survivor-centered mechanism.

Undersigned organizations:

Air Bridge Iraq (Germany)
All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Yazidis (UK)
Bassma NGO (Iraq)
Better World (Iraq)
Center for Victims of Torture
Coalition for Genocide Response (UK)
DAK Organization for Ezidi Women Development (Iraq)
Eyzidi Organization For Documentation (Iraq)
Ezidi Millennium Organization for Development (Iraq)
Farida Global Organization (Germany and Iraq)
Fight For Humanity (Switzerland)
Free Yezidi Foundation (Iraq and USA)
Gazi Organization for Civilian Activities (Iraq)
Genocide Watch
Global Survivors Fund (Switzerland)
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (USA)
Hammurabi Human Rights Organization (Iraq)
Harikar (Iraq)
HÁWAR.help (Germany)
Hope Givers (Iraq) - Network of Yazidi male survivors
Hope Maker’s Organization for Women (Iraq)
House of Coexistence (Iraq)
Inhalation of Hope Organization (Iraq)
International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (UK)
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
Jinda Organization (Iraq)
Jiyan Foundation For Human Rights (Iraq and Germany)
JOMR (Iraq)
Methra Organization for Yarsani Culture and Development (Iraq)
Nadia’s Initiative (Iraq and USA)
Nasem Sinjar Organization for the Care of People With Special Needs (Iraq)
NL Helpt Yezidis (The Netherlands)
Nuhanovic Foundation (The Netherlands)
Office of Yazidi Affairs (Germany)
Petrichor Organization for Human Rights (Iraq)
Religious Freedom Institute
Shingal Engineering Organization (Iraq)
Sinjar Academy (USA and Iraq)
Sunrise Organization for Civil Society Development (Iraq)
Sustainable Peace Foundation (Iraq)
The Zovighian Partnership Public Office
Tomooh Organization for Development (Iraq)
Turkmen Rescue Foundation (Iraq)
Voice of Ezidis (France)
We Are With You (Iraq)
WOLA Organization (Iraq)
Yazda (Iraq and USA)
Yazidi Legal Network (The Netherlands)
Yazidi Survivors Network (Iraq) - Network of Yazidi female survivors
Zentralrat der Êzîiden in Deutschland e.V. (Germany)

Download the Statement here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

This statement is open for further endorsements, please send your request to:

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director

e: natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

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300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

German ISIS member sentenced to an extended prison term for crimes against humanity against Yazidis following appeal decision

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 17:51:27 GMT

Press statement by victim’s counsel Amal Clooney, Natalie von Wistinghausen, Wolfgang Bendler and the NGO Yazda

Munich, 29 August 2023

Today , the Higher Regional Court of Munich affirmed the conviction of ISIS member ‘Jennifer W.’ and increased her sentence from 10 to 14 years imprisonment. The judges highlighted that the defendant neglected the Yazidi victims' human rights because of their religious beliefs and that in enslaving them she intentionally furthered ISIS’ policy of destroying the Yazidi religion – aggravating factors that have not been considered by the first instance court when deciding on the sentence.

In October 2021 , the first instance court convicted the 32-year-old German national who travelled to Syria in 2014 to join ISIS, for her role in the enslavement, abuse and killing of five-year-old Yazidi girl Reda as well as the enslavement and abuse of Reda’s mother. The defendant was found guilty of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity through enslavement with the consequence of death, attempted murder and aiding and abetting the war crime of attempted murder by omission, as well as membership in a foreign terrorist organization. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The court found that:

- The defendant and her Iraqi ex-husband Taha A.-J. held the two Yazidis captive as ‘household slaves’ in their home in Fallujah, Iraq for approximately six weeks in the summer of 2015.

- The defendant’s husband had bought Reda and her mother after they had been enslaved during ISIS’ brutal genocidal campaign against the Yazidis in Sinjar, Iraq in August 2014.

- While in captivity at the couple’s house, Reda and her mother were deprived of sufficient food and subjected to almost daily beatings which the defendant often instigated.

- The couple forced the Yazidi mother to do housework and they were forced to pray multiple times a day according to Islamic rules even though the couple knew that the captives were Yazidis. Reda was given a Muslim name which even the child's mother had to address her with.

- The girl ultimately died after the defendant’s ex-husband tied her with a cable outdoors to the bars of the window and left her hanging there in the scorching heat of up to about 50 degrees Celsius as a punishment for wetting the bed and a measure to ‘discipline’ the girl. Although the defendant had realized that Reda was in a life-threatening situation and would have been able to help, she did nothing to save her life. After the death of the girl, the defendant held a gun to the head of the grieving mother and threatened to shoot her if she did not stop crying.

- By enslaving Reda and her mother, the defendant deliberately and intentionally advanced ISIS’ agenda which aimed to eradicate the Yazidi religion and enslave Yazidi people.

In March 2023 , the German Federal Court of Justice overturned the sentence upon the Federal Public Prosecutor's appeal. The defendant’s appeal was rejected. Germany’s highest court held that the lower instance court erred when qualifying aiding and abetting enslavement as a crime against humanity as a "less serious case" – a legal qualification that had resulted in a reduced sentence. Moreover, it criticized the lower instance court for not taking into account the defendant's motivation and goals, in particular the fact that by enslaving Reda and her mother she deliberately furthered ISIS’ policy, which aimed to destroy the Yazidi religion and the enslavement of the Yazidi people. The Federal Court referred the case back to (another chamber of) the Higher Regional Court of Munich to decide on the sentence.

During the sentencing hearings over the past two months, the defendant confessed to most of the facts established by the court. Regrettably, the Chamber did not spare the severely traumatized mother from having to testify again about the impact of the crimes committed –after she had already gone through 11 gruelling days of testimony before five judges during the first instance proceedings. During closing arguments, the Federal Public Prosecutor requested to sentence the defendant to 14.5 years in prison – a term very close to a life sentence, which in Germany entails a minimum of 15 years.

Reda’s mother participated in the proceedings against Jennifer W. and the separate trial against her husband Taha A.-J. as a co-plaintiff and key witness after the NGO Yazda identified her, located her in Iraq and facilitated her participation in the proceedings. Yazda has collected thousands of testimonies from Yazidi survivors and had interviewed the co-plaintiff two years prior to the start of the trial. She was represented by a legal team consisting of German lawyers Natalie von Wistinghausen and Wolfgang Bendler and UK barrister Amal Clooney.

Commenting on the final judgment, Amal Clooney said: “This decision provides a measure of justice for my client who has put her life on the line to give evidence in the trials of her captors. Her courage and determination have led to the conviction of two ISIS members for crimes against Yazidis. The conviction for genocide was the first of its kind in the world and will benefit victims of ISIS for generations to come."

Natalie von Wistinghausen , who represented the victim during the court hearings in Munich together with Wolfgang Bendler added that: “Our client's courage and steadfastness made it possible for the German judiciary to bring the perpetrators and those responsible for the death of her daughter to justice. The accused Jennifer W. and her ex-husband Taha A.J. were sentenced to long prison terms, a signal to inhuman perpetrators of international crimes that they can no longer be safe from prosecution. We hope that our client can now finally turn the page and find some peace, together with the only son who remains with her. It is for him that she somehow survives, she says.”

Natia Navrouzov , Legal Advocacy Director at Yazda, which is also represented by Ms. Clooney and has helped identify and locate victims in several criminal proceedings in different jurisdictions, said: “These proceedings took over four years of the survivor’s life and the scars of the crimes will likely remain forever. We hope this decision will, however, help her get some closure for the loss of her daughter and that moving forward, she will decide if and how she wants to speak about this again. We commend everyone involved in this case and hope other countries can draw lessons learned from it by also prosecuting ISIS members for similar crimes.”

Nadia Murad , Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, who is herself a survivor of enslavement and torture at the hands of ISIS, commented: "I am in awe of the courage displayed by Reda's mother. Her relentless pursuit of justice serves as a sign of hope for fellow survivors. I feel proud of the courage she has shown, despite the unimaginable trauma that she and her family have endured. I hope that this conviction will ultimately provide her with closure and aid in her healing process."

Background

From August 2014, the Yazidi community in Iraq and Syria was targeted by ISIS through an organized campaign of executions, enslavement, sexual violence, and forced recruitment of child soldiers, as well as the forced displacement of an estimated 400,000 Yazidis from their homeland in Iraq. Nine years after ISIS’ attack, thousands of Yazidi women and children who were abducted and enslaved by ISIS remain missing. These crimes have been recognized by the United Nations, national and international bodies and, more recently, German courts as amounting to genocide.

The trial against Jennifer W. which started in April 2019 was the first trial against an ISIS member for crimes committed against the Yazidis.

Since then, the German courts have convicted three ISIS members of genocide for their crimes against the Yazidis. The judgment issued by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt in November 2021 (and confirmed by the German Federal Court of Justice) against Jennifer W.’s former husband, Iraqi national Taha A.-J., represents the first conviction of an ISIS member for genocide anywhere in the world. A second genocide conviction followed in May 2022 against German ISIS returnee Jalda A. and a third conviction was issued against German ISIS returnee Nadine K. in June 2023.

Additionally, five ISIS members were convicted of crimes against humanity and war crimes for their involvement in ISIS’ crimes against the Yazidis in six cases. These are the cases against Jennifer W., Sarah O. , Nurten J. , Omaima A. (who faced two separate trials) and Romiena S. Ms. Clooney, Ms. von Wistinghausen and Ms. Mehner, represented Yazidi victims in these cases.

Note to editors:

German law normally also does not permit disclosure of defendants’ full surnames. The defendant is therefore identified as ‘Jennifer W.’ throughout this statement.

Download the Statement here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director

e: natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

###

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Nine Years Since The Yazidi Genocide By ISIL Began, Yazda Calls For A Sustainable Future For Yazidis

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 19:30:11 GMT

Erbil, 03 August 2023

Nine years ago today, Yazidi people’s lives were shattered when the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) attacked Sinjar, their homeland in Northern Iraq. From the 3rd of August 2014, ISIL seized control of Sinjar and carried out egregious crimes against the Yazidi community, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

By just the first few days of the attacks, the 400,000-strong community had either been captured, killed or displaced. No free Yazidis remained in Sinjar. Men were executed; girls were sold into sexual slavery; and young Yazidi boys were forcibly recruited. Yazidi’s belongings were stolen, and their farms, sources of income, and religious and cultural sites were destroyed. Around 2,700 Yazidis are still missing, many mass graves are yet to be exhumed, Sinjar remains destroyed and unsafe, and justice still has to be served.

Yazda’s commemoration conference

To remember the events of 3 ^rd of August and their ongoing impact, Yazda held a conference in Erbil today, under the patronage of the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani.

The conference successfully brought together a diverse group of participants, including survivors, high-level political and government representatives, as well as representatives from consulates, embassies, the UN, other multilateral organisations, civil society, and other passionate supporters of the Yazidi cause. The primary objective was to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborate on measures to ensure a sustainable future for Iraq's Yazidi community.

Participants covered, among other things, the need for; coordinating efforts to find missing people and exhume mass graves; greater security in Sinjar so internally displaced people (IDPs) can return to their homeland safely; and a strengthened humanitarian response to support improved access to basic services and infrastructure. The discussions also addressed the need to incorporate holistic and survivor-centered transitional justice processes domestically, including through establishing a legal framework and mechanism in Iraq to prosecute ISIL perpetrators for international crimes; and to end discrimination against Yazidis and other minorities.

Yazda’s groundbreaking report is released

At the conference, Yazda launched its new report, From Resistance to Rubble: The Stories of Ger Zarik, Siba Sheikh-Kheder and Tel Azer. The report explores the international crimes committed in the first three Yazidi-majority villages targeted by ISIL in the early hours of 3 August 2014, Ger Zarik, Siba Sheikh-Kheder and Tel Azer. Through the report, Yazda aims to shed light on previously under-documented locations, provide a nuanced look at how ISIL crimes impacted people at the village level, and illustrate the systematic and premeditated nature of the attacks. The report also highlights the resistance mounted by Yazidis in Ger Zarik and Siba Sheikh-Kheder. Yazidis are survivors who resisted, and continue to resist, the ongoing impact of ISIL crimes and systematic discrimination.

The report also calls on the Iraqi and Kurdistan governments and international community to implement a set of measures to improve the lives of survivors from these villages, as well as the Yazidi community more broadly.

Progress to date, gaps, and the way forward proposed during the conference

Some progress has been driven by survivors’ tireless advocacy with the support of organisations like Yazda, and others. Yet many decisions have been made without proper survivor and community consultation, and some gaps remain.

Efforts at home

The passing of the Yazidi Survivors’ Law (YSL) in March 2021, represented a milestone in transitional justice reform in Iraq. The YSL provides for reparations to eligible survivors of ISIL atrocities, including a monthly salary, rehabilitation services, land, education and employment opportunities, among other benefits. However, survivor groups have expressed frustration that the law is being implemented too slowly, and a focus on reparations has come at the cost of securing other rights and entitlements enshrined within the law.

The KRG established the Yazidi Rescue Office which has helped rescue some missing Yazidis, through coordinated efforts with the Yazidi community.

The United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes committed by ISIL/Da'esh (UNITAD) has collected a substantial amount of evidence on genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Iraq. Yet there remains no legal framework or dedicated mechanism to prosecute such crimes in a survivor-centered way domestically.

Efforts overseas

With Yazda’s support, three ISIL members have been convicted of genocide in Germany for their crimes against Yazidis, and five other ISIL members were convicted of crimes against humanity and war crimes, with the most recent verdict announced on 21 June 2023.

Dozens of states and international institutions have now officially recognised ISIL crimes committed against the Yazidis as genocide, including the UN. Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium recognised the genocide in the past year alone, and the UK government did so as recently as 1 August 2023.

Although these steps are welcomed, more needs to be done to ensure minorities in Iraq have a sustainable future in their own country.

Read our new report here .

Download the Press Release here .

Tamaze Navrouzov, Communications Coordinator

p: +33 7 83 38 25 24

e: tamaze.navrouzov@yazda.org

###

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

Yazda releases the report "Robbed of their Childhood and Still No Justice"

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:48:23 GMT

Duhok, 27 July 2023

Nine years after the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targeted the Yazidi community and other groups in Iraq, Yazda releases a report to focus on child-centered documentation, investigation, prosecution, and broader transitional justice processes. To support the preparation of this report, Justice Rapid Response ( JRR ) deployed to Yazda a JRR rostered expert on children's rights who provided technical support.

From June 2014 ISIL targeted and attacked the populations of the Nineveh Plains in Northern Iraq, especially minority groups, including Christians, Kakais, Shabakhs and Turkmens. On the 3rd of August 2014, ISIL attacked the Sinjar area and carried out heinous crimes against the Yazidi community, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Half of all Yazidis executed were children, and most Yazidis held captive by ISIL were children.

In the words of a young Yazidi male survivor:

“ISIL kidnapped children. They wanted us to never see our families again, to be constantly by their side, supporting them,

engaging in their fights, and even sacrificing ourselves for them”

Yet, children and young people remain invisible in accountability and transitional justice processes. Most of them are designed without considering their specific needs and identifying them as individual rights holders. This is true for Yazidi children whose stories Yazda has been documenting since the inception of its documentation project in early 2015.

While the crimes committed against children are numerous and require a specific approach, the report highlights the shortcomings in their handling to date and proposes some solutions. The report gives Yazidi children, most of whom are young adults now, a voice based on their testimonies and Yazda’s continuous engagement with them.

The report’s findings suggest:

- ISIL committed various abuses, violations and crimes against Yazidi children amounting to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. These include forced transfer; recruitment and conscription of children under 15; rape; sexual slavery; enforced prostitution; forced pregnancy; enforced sterilization; torture, and cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment.

- Gender norms and pre-existing forms of discrimination impacted ISIL's targeting of children and inform how children and young people are impacted by the crimes today.

- Crimes against and affecting children are under-documented, investigated and prosecuted. Local and international actors need to adopt a child-focused and child-centered approach when it comes to investigations and prosecutions.

The report also provides a set of recommendations addressed to the Government of Iraq (GoI), the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), and the international community. These recommendations were prepared based on input from Yazidi children and young people.

Some of the more pressing ones include:

- Urgent steps should be taken to identify and rescue missing Yazidi children by the GoI and KRI.

- For government to establish transitional justice processes that specifically address and prioritise Yazidi children, including investigating and documenting crimes against and affecting them. These processes should apply child-centered documentation and investigation standards. Children should be able to participate in safe ways and given appropriate support.

- To enforce domestic law that already considers international children’s rights and ensure child-specific crimes are prosecuted domestically. Iraq should also incorporate Rome Statute crimes into its domestic law.

- The Yazidi Survivors’ Law (YSL), which provides for reparations, should consider Yazidi children and young people’s needs more. This includes ensuring they have access to the full monthly salary and rehabilitation services, such as tailored medical and mental health supports, and access to education. Support also needs to be provided to their parents and caregivers.

To launch the report, Yazda hosted a workshop today attended by young Yazidi boys and girls who participated in the drafting of the report. Representatives from the UN, the Iraqi government, and NGOs were also present.

This report is only the starting point. Child-centered approaches for rehabilitating Yazidi children and young people are critical and must be implemented. Children are the future of their community, and their active participation and inclusion is essential.

Read the report here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

Download the Press Release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director

e: natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

###

300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA

info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org

A Groundbreaking Series Of 45 Videos Preserving Yazidi Heritage and Culture

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:45:00 GMT

Duhok, 13 July 2023

Yazda, a community-led organization dedicated to aiding and empowering survivors of genocide in Iraq and around the world, announced the launch of a captivating video series that showcases the rich and vibrant Yazidi heritage. This comprehensive collection of 45 episodes, meticulously crafted by talented Yazidi filmmakers over the span of two years, is made possible by the generous financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The series aims to preserve the invaluable intangible cultural heritage of the Yazidi community, promoting global awareness and fostering intercultural connections.

To date, Yazda has already released an impressive selection of 10 videos, available for viewing on both their official website and YouTube channel. Moving forward, Yazda will continue to unveil two new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday until all 45 videos have been published, providing audiences with an immersive journey into Yazidi culture.

"Songs, stories, and dances are all integral parts of Yazidi culture. Capturing these practices on video gives the world a glimpse into these unique and intangible cultural practices. USAID is proud of our partnership with Yazda and the Antiquities Coalition to train Yazidis in the art of filmmaking, offering a means to memorialize their heritage and make it globally available." said USAID Mission Director to Iraq, Elise Jensen.

Reflecting on his childhood memories, Ismail Issa, Yazda's Culture Preservation Project Manager , reminisced, "I can still vividly recall the evenings spent at my grandmother's house, listening to her captivating stories. Although I struggle to remember all the details, preserving this precious folk treasure stands as an invaluable community service."

Peter Herdrich, Co-founder of the Antiquities Coalition added: “This is a groundbreaking project, a unique database of videos that captures the Yazidi community’s heritage. The documentation of Yazidi culture allows us to digitally preserve it for future generations.”

To view the compelling video series and embark on a journey through the Cultural Heritage of Minority Communities in Iraq activity, visit Yazda's official website at www.yazda.org or explore their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@yazda6461/videos .

"Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Minority Communities in Iraq" activity stands as a collaborative endeavor between Yazda and the Antiquities Coalition, funded by a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Download the Press Release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

Tamaze Navrouzov, Communications Coordinator

p: +33 7 83 38 25 24

e: tamaze.navrouzov@yazda.org

###

محكمة ألمانية تصدر ثالث حكم بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية بحق أحد عناصر داعش لأ ستعباده وإسائته لإمرأة إيزيدية في سوريا والعراق.

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 19:16:02 GMT

Image: Thomas Frey/dpa/picture alliance

كوبلنز ، 21 يونيو 2023

بيان صحفي من محامية الضحايا أمل كلوني ، سونكا مهنر ، ناتالي فان ويستنجهاوسن ومنظمة يزدا.

في قرار تاريخي، أدانت المحكمة الإقليمية العليا في كوبلنز المواطنة الألمانية 'نادين ك. بتهمة المساعدة والتحريض على الإبادة الجماعية والجرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم الحرب من أجل استعباد وسوء معاملة امرأة إيزيدية شابة لدعم حملة داعش الوحشية للقضاء على الأقلية الدينية الايزيدية. حكم على عنصر داعش السابق البالغ من العمر 37 عامًا بالسجن 9 سنوات و 3 أشهر. وهذه ثالث إدانة لعنصر من داعش لإرتكابه إبادة جماعية ضد المجتمع الأيزيدي في العراق وسوريا منذ آب / أغسطس 2014.

أصدرت الدائرة الابتدائية المكونة من ثلاثة قضاة حكمها الشفوي اليوم بعد محاكمة استمرت لثلاثون يوماً ووجدت أن:

- التحقت المدعى عليها وزوجها بداعش أواخر عام 2014 بعد أن اجتاحت الجماعة الإرهابية منطقة سنجار في العراق ونفذت إعدامات جماعية لرجال إيزيديين والمسنات وتعريض الشابات والأطفال للاختطاف والاستعباد الجنسي والتجنيد الإجباري لداعش.

- عمل زوج المدعى عليها طبيبا لداعش في العراق وسوريا و كان يعالج مقاتلي داعش مع مرضى آخرين.

- في عام 2016، تم اهداءه امرأة أيزيدية تبلغ من العمر 21 عامًا (تدعى "ن") من قبل عنصر آخر من داعش.

- لمدة ثلاث سنوات، حتى مارس / آذار 2019، و في اماكن مختلفة، احتجز الزوجان (ن) كعبدة في منزلهما حيث تعرضت للاغتصاب والعمل القسري.

- كانت المدعى عليها تعلم أن زوجها كان يضرب ويغتصب ن لكنها لم تتدخل رغم انها كانت تستطيع وكان من المفترض ان تفعل ذلك. قامت المدعى عليها بتأمين أسر "ن" ، ومن خلال القيام بذلك سهلت إساءة معاملة الضحية. المحكمة مقتنعة بأن المدعى عليها تصرفت بدافع الإدانة لأنها أتبعت أيديولوجية داعش.

- عاملت المدعى عليها وزوجها المرأة الأيزيدية على أنها ملكاً لهما وأجبراها على العمل لديهما من الفجر حتى الغسق والالتزام بالطقوس الإسلامية بالصلاة خمس مرات في اليوم والصيام في رمضانرمضان.

- علمت المدعى عليها بحملة داعش لإبادة الإيزيديين وكانت تعلم أن أفعالها تخدم الهدف الواضح لداعش وهو تدمير العقيدة الأيزيدية.

- بعد هزيمة داعش، استمرت محنة ن حيث تم أسرها مع عائلة المدعى عليها من قبل القوات الكردية ونقلها وحجزها في مخيم الهول للاجئين شمال سوريا بين عناصر تنظيم داعش حتى تمكنت من الفرار بمساعدة صحفي بريطاني.

سافرت ن، التي كانت الشاهدة الرئيسية في القضية، من العراق إلى ألمانيا لمواجهة الجاني في المحكمة. شاركت كمدعية في الإجراءات ومثلها المحاميات الألمانيات سونكا مينر وناتالي فون ويستينكهاوسن والمحامية البريطانية أمل كلوني. أدلت بشهادتها في المحكمة على مدى 64 يومًا، وسردت من خلال مترجم كورمانجي الجرائم التي تعرضت لها في منزل المدعىعليها. على الرغم من التحدي العاطفي الكبير، إلا أن عزيمتها الثابتة على مواجهة المتهم ومشاركة قصتها لم يهتز.

بعد الحكم الذي حضرته شخصيًا مع زوجها، صرحت ن "أود أن أعبر عن شكر خاص لسلطات التحقيق، المدعين العامين الفيدراليين، القضاة، وجمهورية ألمانيا الاتحادية على اتخاذ إجراءات ضد داعش، من أجل دور القانون السائد هنا، لتوفير العزاء والعدالة لضحايا ممارسات داعش الوحشية. العدالة التي آمل أن أحققها من خلال هذه المحاكمة لا تخدمني فحسب، بل مجتمعنا الإيزيدي أيضًا... أسمح لنفسي بالتحدث نيابة عن جميع الناجين، مشيرًا إلى أنه كأفراد وكمجتمع أيزيدي، يمكننا فقط معالجة ما حدث لنا إذا حققنا العدالة."

قامت يزدا والتي تمثلها أيضاً السيدة كلوني بجمع الألاف من شهادات الناجين الأيزيديين ولعبت دورًا أساسيًا في ضمان مشاركة الشاهد الرئيسي في المحاكمة .

وعلقت محامية الضحايا أمل كلوني على المحاكمة قائلة، "أول إدانة لعضو في داعش بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية جاءت قبل عامين والآن لدينا الثالثة. لقد وصلنا إلى هذه المعالم بفضل شجاعة الناجيات مثل مؤكلتي اللواتي تعرضن للاغتصاب والاستعباد من قبل داعش لكنهن كن مصممات على مواجهة المعتدين عليهن في قفص الاتهام. في هذه المحاكمة، واجهت مؤكلتي عنصر داعش الذي استعبدها لمدة ثلاث سنوات. واليوم فازت. شكراً لألمانيا التي قادت العالم في تقديم داعش للعدالة. كما قال القاضي في المحكمة اليوم - هناك كلمة لما فعله داعش - وهي إبادة جماعية. بفضل محاكم كهذه، أصبح العالم على دراية بهذا والناجيات لا يستحقن أقل من هذا.

علقت سونكا مهنر التي مثلت الناجية أثناء المحاكمة "إن الروايات المأساوية لمؤكلتنا التمست مشاعرجميع الحاضرين.

أنا متأكد من أن الأدلاء بشهادتها أمام محكمة ألمانية ، حققت هدفها المتمثل في لفت انتباه العالم إلى واقعها و الواقع المأساوي للمجتمع الأيزيدي لمنع تكرار ما حدث."

وأضافت ناتالي فون ويستنكهاوسن قائلة , "الاستماع إلى روايات ن المروعة, و الشجاعة التي املتكها للحضور هنا و مخاطبة القضاة و مثابرتها ضد كل الصعوبات شيء في غاية التواضع. . بعثت برسالة قوية من خلال ارتدائها لباسًا إيزيديًا تقليديًا عندما حضرت جلسة الاستماع اليوم : لم ولن ينجح داعش أبدًا في تدمير الثقافة والهوية الأيزيدية."

دلخواز حجي, ،مديرة القانونية في يزدا التي حضرت المحكمة لسماع الحكم ، علقت قائلة , "نحن نثني على أدانة الحكومة الألمانية اليوم لعنصر من داعش لارتكابه جرائم بحق الإيزيديين. لضمان عملية قانونية شاملة وعادلة ، من المهم للنظام القانوني الجنائي الألماني أن يفكر في تسهيل المشاركة الكاملة للضحية من مرحلة ما قبل المحاكمة إلى ما بعد الإدانة. إن تمكين الضحايا من المشاركة النشطة طوال المحاكمة ، بما في ذلك الحضور لإعلان الحكم ، له قيمة كبيرة في سعيهن لتحقيق العدالة. إنه يوفر لهن الفرصة لمواجهة المعتدي عليهن بشكل مباشر في محكمة قانونية ، ومشاركة شهادتهم ، واستعادة الشعور بالتمكين الذي انتزع منهم بالقوة. علاوة على ذلك ، يسمح لهن بالبدء في عملية الشفاء وإعادة بناء حياتهن بكرامة. يسعدنا أن نتمكن من تسهيل حضور ن شخصيًا لإعلان الحكم اليوم ونحن ملتزمون بضمان حصول المزيد من الضحايا الإيزيديين على فرصتهن للحضور في المحكمة والحصول على العدالة التي يستحقنها.

الخلفية

منذ آب 2014 ، استُهدف المجتمع الإيزيدي في العراق وسوريا من قبل داعش من خلال حملة منظمة من الإعدام والاسترقاق والعنف الجنسي والتجنيد القسري للأطفال كجنود ، فضلاً عن التهجير القسري لما يقدر بنحو 400 الف أيزيدي من مسقط رأسهم في العراق. بعد ما يقارب تسع سنوات من هجوم داعش ، لا يزال الآلاف من الأيزيديين الذين اختطفهم و استعبدهم داعش في عداد المفقودين و لم يتم تنقيب المقابر الجماعية ولم ينخرط العراق في الملاحقة الجنائية لعناصر داعش على جرائم دولية ، بسبب عدم وجود إطار قانوني. وقد اعترفت الأمم المتحدة والهيئات الوطنية والدولية ، ومؤخراً المحاكم الألمانية ، بهذه الجرائم باعتبارها ترقى إلى مستوى الإبادة الجماعية والجرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم الحرب.

أدانت المحاكم الألمانية الى الان ثلاثة من عناصر داعش لارتكابهم جرائم إبادة جماعية ضد الإيزيديين.الحكم الصادر عن المحكمة الإقليمية العليا في فرانكفورت في تشرين الثاني 2021 ضد المواطن العراقي طه أ . يمثل أول إدانة لعنصر من داعش بتهمة ارتكاب جريمة إبادة جماعيةحول العالم. وقد تم تأكيده مؤخرًا في محمكة الاستئناف. اتبعت ذلك إدانة ابادة جماعية اخرى في مايو 2022 ضد جلدا أ المانية عائدة من صفوف داعش والحكم الصادر اليوم ضد نادين ك يعد ثالث إدانة بالإبادة الجماعية لأحد عناصر داعش

كما سبق أن أدانت المحاكم الألمانية 5 أعضاء آخرين من داعش بارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب لتورطهم في جرائم داعش ضد الإيزيديين في 6 قضايا. هذه هي القضايا المرفوعة ضد جينيفر دبليو ، وسارة أو . ، ونورتن ج . ، وأميمة أ (التي واجهت محاكمتين منفصلتين) و مثلت كل منرومينا س و السيدة كلوني و السيدة فان ويستنكهاوسن و/ او السيدة مهنر في جميع هذه القضايا. قدمت يزدا أيضًا دعمًا حاسمًا لهذه القضايا من خلال تقديم أدلة أساسية و / أو تحديد الضحية و / أو دعم الضحايا للمشاركة في المحاكمات.

ألقت القوات الكردية القبض على المدعى عليها نادين ك في عام 2019 أثناء محاولتها هي وعائلتها الفرار من سوريا إلى تركيا.احتُجزت هي وأطفالها في معسكرات بشمال سوريا حتى إعادتهم إلى ألمانيا في آذار 2022. واعتقلت فور وصولها ووجهت لها لائحة اتهام في أيلول 2022.

ملاحظة للمحررين:

بموجب القانون الألماني ، يحق لضحايا الجرائم الجسيمة المشاركة في الإجراءات الجنائية بصفتهم "مدعين مشاركين" جنبًا إلى جنب مع الادعاء والدفاع. من أجل سلامتها ، لم يتم الكشف عن هوية الضحية. ولذلك يشار إليها باسم "ن" في هذا البيان.

عادة لا يسمح القانون الألماني أيضًا بالكشف عن الألقاب الكاملة للمتهمين. وبناءً على ذلك ، يُعرف المدعى عليه باسم "نادين ك." طوال هذا البيان.

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director

e: natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

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German court delivers third genocide verdict against ISIS member for the enslavement and abuse of Yazidi woman in Syria and Iraq

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 16:05:16 GMT

Image: Thomas Frey/dpa/picture alliance

Koblenz, 21 June 2023

Press statement by victim’s counsel Amal Clooney, Sonka Mehner and Natalie von Wistinghausen and Yazda.

In a milestone decision, the Higher Regional Court of Koblenz convicted German national ‘Nadine K.’ of aiding and abetting genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for the enslavement and abuse of a young Yazidi woman in support of ISIS’ brutal campaign to eradicate the Yazidi religious minority. The 37-year-old former ISIS member has been handed a sentence of 9 years and 3 months in prison. This marks the third conviction of an ISIS member for genocide perpetrated against the Yazidi community in Iraq and Syria since August 2014.

The three-judge trial chamber delivered its oral judgment today after 30 trial days, finding that:

- The defendant and her husband joined ISIS in late 2014 after the terrorist group had invaded the Sinjar region of Iraq and carried out mass executions of Yazidi men and elderly women and subjected younger women and children to abduction, sexual slavery, and forced recruitment for ISIS.

- In Iraq and Syria, the defendant’s husband worked as a doctor for ISIS, treating ISIS fighters among other patients. In 2016, he was ‘gifted’ a 21-year-old Yazidi woman (referred to as ‘N’.) by another ISIS member.

- For three years, until March 2019, and across different locations, the couple held N. as a slave in their home, where she was raped and subjected to forced labour.

- The defendant knew that her husband regularly beat and raped N., and chose not to intervene although she ‘could and should have’. The defendant secured N.’s captivity and, by doing so, facilitated the abuse of the victim. The court is convinced that the defendant acted out of conviction because she identified with ISIS’ ideology.

- The defendant and her husband treated the Yazidi woman as their property and forced her to work for them from dawn to dusk and adhere to Islamic practices by praying five times a day and observing fasting during Ramadan.

- The defendant knew about ISIS’ genocidal campaign against the Yazidis and she knew that her actions served ISIS’ declared goal of destroying the Yazidi faith.

After ISIS’ defeat, N.’s ordeal continued as she was captured along with the defendant’s family by Kurdish forces and transferred to and held at Al-Hawl refugee camp in northern Syria among ISIS members until she was able to escape with the help of a British journalist.

N., who was the key witness in the case, travelled from Iraq to Germany to confront her perpetrator in court. She participated as a co-plaintiff in the proceedings and was represented by German lawyers Sonka Mehner and Natalie von Wistinghausen and British barrister Amal Clooney. She testified in court over 6 days, recounting through a Kurmanji interpreter the crimes she endured in the defendant’s household. Despite the immense emotional challenge, her unwavering determination to face the accused and to share her story remained unbroken.

Following the judgement, which she attended in person with her husband, N. stated: ’I would like to express special thanks to the investigating authorities, the federal prosecutors, the judges, and the Federal Republic of Germany for conducting proceedings against ISIS members, for the rule of law prevailing here, and for providing solace and justice to the victims of ISIS’ cruel practices. The justice that I hope to achieve through this trial not only concerns me personally but also our Yazidi community… I allow myself to speak on behalf of all survivors, stating that as individuals and as a Yazidi community, we can only process what happened to us if we experience justice.’

Yazda, which is also represented by Ms. Clooney, and has collected thousands of Yazidi survivors’ testimonies, played an instrumental role in ensuring the key witness’ participation in the trial.

Victim’s counsel Amal Clooney commented on the trial: ‘The first conviction of an ISIS member for genocide came two years ago, and now we have the third. We have reached these milestones because of the bravery of survivors, like my client, who were raped and enslaved by ISIS but were determined to face their abusers in the dock. In this trial my client stared down the ISIS member who enslaved her for three years. And today, she won. Thank you to Germany, which has led the world in bringing ISIS to justice. As the judge said in court today – there is a word for what ISIS did – and it is genocide. Thanks to trials like this, the world knows this. And the survivors deserve nothing less.’

Sonka Mehner who represented the survivor during the trial commented: ’The tragic accounts of our client got under the skin of everyone present. I am sure that with her testimony before a German court, she has achieved her goal of bringing the cruel fate of the Yazidi religious community to the attention of the world, in addition to her own, in order to prevent a repetition.’

Natalie von Wistinghausen added: ‘Listening to N.’s harrowing accounts, the courage she found to come here and to address the judges and her perseverance really against all odds is something that I find truly humbling. She sent a strong message by wearing a Yazidi traditional dress when she attended the hearing today: ISIS hasn't and never will succeed in destroying the Yazidi culture and identity..‘

Delkhwaz Haciy, Yazda’s Senior Legal Officer who attended the court to hear the verdict commented: ‘We commend today’s genocide conviction of an ISIS member by the German government for the crimes committed against the Yazidis. To ensure a comprehensive and fair legal process, it is important for the German criminal legal system to consider facilitating full victim participation from the pre-trial to the post-conviction phases. Enabling victims to actively engage throughout the trial, including being present for the verdict announcement, holds significant value in their pursuit of justice. It offers them an opportunity to directly confront their perpetrator in a court of law, share their testimony, and regain a sense of empowerment that was forcibly taken away from them. Moreover, it allows them to begin the healing process and rebuild their lives with dignity. We are pleased that we could facilitate N's presence in person for the announcement of the verdict today and we are committed to ensure more Yazidi victims have their day in court and receive the justice they deserve.’

Background

From August 2014, the Yazidi community in Iraq and Syria was targeted by ISIS through an organised campaign of executions, enslavement, sexual violence, and forced recruitment of child soldiers, as well as the forced displacement of an estimated 400,000 Yazidis from their homeland in Iraq. Almost 9 years after ISIS’ attack, thousands of Yazidis who were abducted and enslaved by ISIS remain missing, mass graves remain unexhumed and Iraq has yet to engage in criminal prosecution of ISIS members for international crimes, due to the absence of a legal framework. These crimes have been recognised by the United Nations , national and international bodies and, more recently, German courts as amounting to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

German courts have now convicted three ISIS members of genocide for their crimes against the Yazidis. The judgment issued by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt in November 2021 against Iraqi national Taha A.-J. represents the first conviction of an ISIS member for genocide anywhere in the world and it was recently confirmed on appeal. A second genocide conviction followed in May 2022 against German ISIS returnee Jalda A. and today’s verdict against Nadine K. marks the third genocide conviction of an ISIS member.

German courts have previously also convicted 5 other ISIS members of crimes against humanity and war crimes for their involvement in ISIS’ crimes against the Yazidis in 6 cases. These are the cases against Jennifer W. , Sarah O. , Nurten J. , Omaima A. (who faced two separate trials) and Romiena S. Ms. Clooney, Ms. von Wistinghausen and/or Ms. Mehner, represented the Yazidi victims in all of these cases. Yazda also provided crucial support to these cases by providing key evidence and/or identifying the victim and/or supporting victims to participate in the trials.

The defendant, Nadine K., was captured by Kurdish forces in 2019 as she and her family attempted to flee from Syria to Turkey. She and her children were detained in camps in northern Syria until their repatriation to Germany in March 2022. She was arrested upon her arrival and indicted in September 2022.

Note to editors:

German law normally also does not permit disclosure of defendants’ full surnames. The defendant is therefore identified as ‘Nadine K.’ throughout this statement.

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director

e: natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

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Yazidi Genocide: Engaging with Yazidi Survivors’ Path to Justice

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 18:40:51 GMT

01 June 2023

Justice Rapid Response, Yazda and the Clooney Foundation for Justice are co-hosting an innovative and interactive event inviting guests to an open dialogue with survivors of the Yazidi genocide.

Justice Rapid Response (JRR), Yazda and the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) are co-hosting an innovative event providing representatives from Geneva-based UN missions with the opportunity to interact with survivors of the Yazidi genocide. Two survivors, Dalal and Hakeema, who will be attending the event, will reflect on the next steps that must be taken to ensure effective justice for their community.

“Survivors carry the indelible scars of the genocide deep within their hearts and souls. After nearly nine years, the international community’s support remains crucial for the Yazidis and other affected minorities in their path toward healing. We need justice, as it will empower victims to rebuild their lives and envision a better future in a stable and sustainable environment,” Dalal and Hakeema said in the lead-up of the event.

On August 3, 2014, the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) attacked Sinjar, launching a campaign of genocide against Yazidis and other minorities in northern Iraq. In the aftermath of the attack, the Yazidi community has suffered devastating consequences.It is estimated that 6,417Yazidis were abducted, including women and girls who were sold into sexual slavery, and young Yazidi boys who were captured and forced into re-education camps and ideological schools.

“We, at Yazda, highly encourage survivors to take the lead of advocacy initiatives for justice and accountability. Since 2014, our campaign has been spearheaded by survivors, who can testify to what happened to them and explain why these crimes need to be investigated accordingly. No one can express the pain they endured except the survivors themselves. Thus, our campaign can only be legitimized with the leadership of Yazidi survivors,” emphasized Haider Elias, President of Yazda , who will take part into the event.

The latter will feature various activities enabling guests to fully immerse themselves in the path to justice of a Yazidi genocide survivor.

“At JRR, putting victims and survivors at the center of their justice process are not just empty words. It is our everyday motto and the very compass which is guiding all the accountability efforts we are taking part in. Our mission is to provide prompt, impartial and professional expertise to investigate

international crimes and serious human rights violations and to promote the rights and access to justice of victims and survivors,” declared Samuel Emonet, Executive Director of JRR.

Guests will have the opportunity to better grasp the reality of a survivor by attending a virtual exhibition curated by the groundbreaking andaward-winning Nobody’s Listening. Participants will also engage in an open dialogue with representatives of the Yazidi Survivors Network and the JRR Roster expert who was deployed in Iraq. Finally, the Clooney Foundation for Justice will present its groundbreaking Justice Beyond Borders tool, which maps universal jurisdiction laws in 193 countries. CFJ will also discuss Co-Founder Amal Clooney’s work securing the only two convictions for genocide against ISIS fighters anywhere in the world.

“The Docket’s mission is to make justice for survivors of mass atrocities a reality. At The Docket, we gather evidence of international crimes to trigger prosecutions of perpetrators and support victims in their pursuit of justice. We are proud to seek justice and reparations for the atrocities committed against the Yazidi community by ISIS, working closely with our co-President, Amal Clooney, who is representing Yazidi survivors before national courts,” said Anya Neistat, Legal Director of The Docket Initiative of CFJ.

ABOUT US

Justice Rapid Response is the only global facility that partners with international, national and civil society actors by providing them with prompt, impartial and professional expertise, tailored to each context, to investigate international crimes and serious human rights violationsand to promote the

rights and access to justice of victims and survivors.

Yazda is a global community-led institution that protects and champions all religious and ethnic minority communities, including Assyrians, Chaldeans, Kakais, Shabak, Yazidis, and others in Iraq, Kurdistan Region, and Syria. Founded in 2014 at the onset of the genocide perpetrated by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) or Da'esh against the Yazidis, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity against other minorities. Yazda leads advocacy and strategic projects in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains (Iraq), as well as global diaspora hubs.

The Clooney Foundation for Justice : CFJ’s mission is waging justice to create a world where human rights are protected, and no one is above the law. The Foundation operates in over 40 countries, providing free legal support to victims of human rights abuses, gathering evidence to ensure that perpetrators face justice, and engaging in strategic litigation to reform discriminatory laws.

Download Press Release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

Tamaze Navrouzov, Communications Coordinator

p: +33 7 83 38 25 24

e: tamaze.navrouzov@yazda.org

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الإبادة الجماعية بحق الأيزيديين: بالانخراط مع طريق الناجيات الأيزيديات نحو العدالة

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:51:39 GMT

جنيف 1 يونيو 2023

بدعم من بعثة كندا للأمم المتحدة في جنيف، ستقوم كل من فريق الاستجابة السريعة للعدالة ويزدا ومؤسسة أمل كلوني باستضافة حدث تفاعلي وفريد من نوعه بدعوة الضيوف لحوار مفتوح مع الناجين من الإبادة الجماعية ضد الأيزيديين.

سيقوم كل من فريق الاستجابة السريعة للعدالة (JRR) ويزدا ومؤسسة أمل كلوني للعدالة (CFJ) باستضافة حدث مبتكر مع إتاحة الفرصة لممثلي بعثات الأمم المتحدة المقيمة في جنيف للتفاعل مع الناجيات الإبادة الجماعية ضد الأيزيديين. دلال وحكيمة هن الناجيات اللاتي سيحضرن الحدث، سينعكسن توقعاتهن لمستقبل عملية العدالة والتعبير عن احتياجاتهن غير الملباة لضمان وصول مجتمعهن إلى العدالة بشكل فعال.

"تحمل الناجيات آثار الإبادة الجماعية التي لا تُمحى في أعماق قلوبهن وارواحهن. بعد ما يقارب تسع سنوات، يظل دعم المجتمع الدولي أمرًا مهماً للايزيديين والأقليات المتضررة الأخرى في رحلتهم نحو التعافي. نحن بحاجة إلى العدالة لتمكين الضحايا من إعادة بناء حياتهم المدمرة وتصور مستقبل أفضل في بيئة مستقرة ومستدامة،" قالت دلال وحكيمة في الفترة التمهيدية للحدث.

في 3 آب، 2014، هاجمت سنجار ما تسمى بالدولة الإسلامية وأطلقت حملة إبادة جماعية ضد الأيزيديين وأقليات أخرى في شمال العراق. وفي أعقاب الهجوم، عانى المجتمع الأيزيدي آثار مدمرة. التقديرات تشير الى أن تم أسر ما يقارب 6,417 من الأيزيديين، تم بيع النساء والفتيات لغرض الاستعباد الجنسي، أُسر الشباب الأيزيديين اليافعين واُجبروا على الدخول الى معسكرات لغسل أدمغتهم وكذلك الذهاب لمدارس خاصة بالعقيدة الدينية.

"نحن في منظمة يزدا نشجع الناجيات بشدة لأخذ زمام المبادرة في مجال العدالة والمساءلة. منذ سنة 2014، تقوم الناجيات بقيادة حملتنا، باستطاعتهن الإدلاء بشهادتهن لما حصل لهن وتوضيح الأسباب التي يجب من اجلها التحقيق في هذه الجرائم. ليس باستطاعة أي شخص أن يعبر عن الألم الذي مرت به الناجيات سوى أنفسهن. وبالتالي، يمكن لحملتنا أن تكون شرعية فقط بقيادة الناجيات الأيزيديات،" ركزَ على ذلك حيدر الياس، رئيس منظمة يزدا والذي سيشارك في الحدث.

وسيتضمن هذا الأخير أنشطة مختلفة تمكن الضيوف من الانغماس بشكل كامل في طريق العدالة لاحدى الناجيات من الإبادة الجماعية ضد الأيزيدين.

"لدى فريق الاستجابة السريعة للعدالة، وضع الضحايا والناجيات في قلب إجراءات العدالة ليست مجرد كلمات دون أفعال. انه شعارنا اليومي والبوصلة ذاتها هي التي تقود جميع جهود المساءلة التي نشارك فيها. مهمتنا هي تقديم التعزيز وخبرات محايدة ومهنية للتحقيق في جرائم دولية وانتهاكات خطيرة لحقوق الانسان ولتعزيز الحقوق ووصول الضحايا والناجيات للعدالة،" قالها سامويل ايمونيت، المدير التنفيذي لفريق الاستجابة السريعة للعدالة.

ستمنح الفرصة للضيوف لفهم واقع الناجية بشكل أفضل من خلال حضور معرض افتراضي برعاية المبتكر والحائز على جوائز ، لا أحد يستمع . كما سيخوض المشاركون في حوار مفتوح مع ممثلين عن شبكة الناجيات الأيزيديات و خبير فريق الاستجابة السريعة للعدالة الذي كان متواجداً في العراق . وأخيراً، ستقدم مؤسسة كلوني للعدالة أداتها المساماة عدالة وراء الحدود الرائدة والتي ترسم خرائط لقوانين الولاية القضائية العالمية في 193 دولة. ستناقش مؤسسة كلوني للعدالة أيضًا عمل المؤسسة المشاركة أمل كلوني التي ضمنت الإدانتين الوحيدتين بالإبادة الجماعية ضد مقاتلي داعش في أي مكان في العالم.

"نهدف عن طريق جدول الدعاوى أن نجعل العدالة للناجين من الفظائع الجماعية حقيقة واقعة. في جدول الدعاوى، نجمع أدلة على ارتكاب جرائم دولية لبدء محاكمة الجناة ودعم الضحايا في سعيهم لتحقيق العدالة. نحن فخورون بالسعي لتحقيق العدالة و الحصول على

التعويضات عن الفظائع التي ارتكبها داعش ضد الأيزيديين، والعمل عن كثب مع رئيستنا المشاركة، أمل كلوني، التي تمثل الناجين الأيزيديين أمام المحاكم الوطنية،" قالت أنيا نيستات، المديرة القانونية لمبادرة جدول دعاوى الخاص بمؤسسة كلوني للعدالة.

نبذة عنا

الاستجابة السريعة للعدالة هو المرفق العالمي الوحيد الذي يتعاون مع أطراف فاعلة عالمية ومحلية والمجتمع المدني من خلال تقديم التعزيز والخبرات المحايدة والمهنية مخصصة لكل سياق وللتحقيق في جرائم دولية وانتهاكات خطيرة لحقوق الانسان ولتعزيز الحقوق ووصول الضحايا والناجيات للعدالة.

يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي وتقوم بحماية والدفاع عن جميع مجتمعات الأقليات الدينية والعرقية بما فيها الأشوريين والكلدانيين والكاكائيين والشبك والأيزيديين ومجموعات أخرى في العراق وإقليم كوردستان وسوريا. تأسست سنة 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبها الدولة الإسلامية في العراق وسوريا (ISIS) والمعروف أيضاً بالدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام (ISIL) او داعش بحق الأيزيديين وكذلك جرائم الحرب وجرائم ضد الإنسانية بحق أقليات أخرى. تقود يزدا مشاريع استراتيجية والمساءلة في دهوك وسنجار وسهل نينوى في العراق وكذلك محاور عالمية للجاليات في المهجر.

مؤسسة كلوني للعدالة : مهمة هذه المؤسسة هي البدء بحملة عدالة لخلق عالم تحظى فيه حقوق الإنسان بالحماية، ولا أحد فوق القانون. تعمل المؤسسة في أكثر من 40 دولة، وتقدم الدعم القانوني المجاني لضحايا انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان، وجمع الأدلة لضمان مواجهة الجناة للعدالة، والانخراط في قضايا استراتيجية لإصلاح القوانين التمييزية.

قم بتنزيل البيان من هنا .

Tamaze Navrouzov, Communications Coordinator

p: +33 7 83 38 25 24

e: tamaze.navrouzov@yazda.org

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يزدا ترحب وتدعم عملیات تنقیب المقابر الجماعية في همدان، سنجار

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 17:09:13 GMT

03 مارس 2023

في 5 آذار / مارس 2023 ، ستبدأ مؤسسة الشهداء، السلطة الحكومية العراقية المسؤولة عن تنقیب المقابر الجماعية والتعرف علی هویه‌ الضحايا ، بالتعاون مع اللجنة الدولية لشؤون المفقودين (ICMP) وفريق التحقيق التابع للأمم المتحدة لمحاسبة داعش (UNITAD) ، بتنقیب المقابر الجماعية في قرية همدان على الجانب الجنوبي من جبل سنجار.

ترحب يزدا بهذا الحدث الهام لأنه سيسمح لعائلات الضحايا من همدان بكشف الحقيقة حول ما حدث لأحبائهم ودفنهم ليبداء عملية الإستشفاء لديهم.

منذ آذار/ مارس 2019 ، تم تنقیب 43 مقبرة جماعية في سنجار ، بما في ذلك 17 في كوجو ، وواحد في صولاغ ، و 6 في حردان ، و 6 في قنی، و 6 في گر زرك . سيتم تنقیب 3 مقابر جماعية فی همدان بدعم فني من يونيتاد. مثل العديد من القرى الأخرى ، تعرضت همدان للهجوم من قبل داعش في 3 أغسطس 2014 وتم إما أسر العوائل الأیزیدیة أو إعدامهم. وفقًا لشهادات الناجين التي جمعتها يزدا من خلال مشروع التوثيق الخاص بها منذ أوائل عام 2015، فصلت داعش العائلات بشكل منهجي، وتم قتل الرجال واستعباد النساء والأطفال.

ستقوم العوائل بتنظیم مراسیم البدء غدا، بدعم من منظمات المجتمع المدني وبحضور افراد من المجتمع الايزيدي ومسؤولين عراقيين. ستقام طقوس دينية أيزيدية تكريما للضحايا قبل نقل الرفات إلى المشرحة في بغداد لأغراض تحديد الهوية. بعد تحديد الهوية ، ستتم إعادة الرفات إلى العائلات من أجل مراسیم الدفن الكريمة.

ستتواجد يزدا وشركاؤها في همدان لدعم المجتمع الإيزيدي خلال هذه الفترة الصعبة. سيتم تقديم الخدمات الطبية والدعم النفسي من قبل العيادة المتنقلة وفريق إدارة الحالة التابعين ليزدا. ستجيب فرق یزدا أيضًا على أسئلة العائلات حول عملية التنقیب و سيتم دعوة افراد من المجتمع لتقديم ملاحظات حول الإجراءات للتأكيد من أن عمليات التنقيب وتحديد الهوية بطريقة تتمحور حول الناجين.

وتدعو يزدا السلطات المعنية إلى الإسراع في عملية تنقیب المقابر الجماعية المعروفة في سنجار بما يتماشى مع المعايير الدولية وبطريقة متمحورة حول المجتمع.

قم بتنزيل البيان من هنا .

iq.media@yazda.org

+964 751 724 9836

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Yazda welcomes and supports the exhumation of mass graves in Hamadan, Sinjar

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 17:09:09 GMT

03 March 2023

On 5 March 2023, the Martyrs Foundation, the Iraqi government authority in charge of exhuming mass graves and identifying the victims, in cooperation with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) and the United Nations Investigative Team for Accountability of Da’esh /ISIL (UNITAD), will begin exhuming mass graves in the village of Hamadan, on the South side of Sinjar Mountain.

Yazda welcomes this important milestone as it will allow the families of victims from Hamadan to uncover the truth about what happened to their beloved ones, to bury them and to begin their healing process.

Since March 2019, a total of 43 mass graves have been exhumed in Sinjar including 17 in Kocho, 1 in Solagh, 6 in Hardan, 6 in Qiney, and 6 in Ger Zarik. There are 4 known mass graves in Hamadan and 3 will be exhumed with UNITAD’s technical support. Like many other villages, Hamadan was attacked by ISIL on the 3rd of August 2014 and Yazidi families were executed or captured. According to survivor testimonies collected by Yazda through its documentation project since early 2015, ISIL systematically separated families, killing the men and enslaving women and children.

Tomorrow, an opening ceremony organized by the families will take place in the presence of Yazidi community members. Yazidi religious rituals will be performed in honor of the victims before remains are taken to the mortuary in Baghdad for identification purposes. After identification, the remains will be returned to the families for dignified burial ceremonies.

Yazda and its partners will be in Hamadan to support the Yazidi community during this difficult period. Yazda’s Mobile Medical Unit and case managers will provide medical and mental health services. Yazda teams will also be there to answer families’ questions about the exhumation process and community members will be invited to provide feedback on the processes to ensure exhumations and identifications are carried out in a survivor-centered way.

Yazda calls on the relevant authorities to expedite the exhumation process for the remaining mass graves in Sinjar in line with international standards and in a community-centered manner.

Download Press Release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

iq.media@yazda.org

+964 751 724 9836

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الذكرى السنوية الثانية لقانون الناجيات الأيزيديات: الإنجازات والتحديات المتبقية

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:26:36 GMT

01 مارس 2023

يصادف اليوم مرور عامين على إقرار العراق لقانون الناجيات الإيزيديات (YSL) والذي يعتبر قراراً تاريخياً. يمثل إقرار هذا القانون في الأول من مارس 2021 خطوة مهمة في الجهود المبذولة لمعالجة جرائم داعش ضد الإيزيديين والأقليات الأخرى. يضع القانون إطارًا لتقديم تعويضات اقتصادية واجتماعية ورمزية للناجيات الأيزيديات، المسيحيات، الشبكيات والتركمانيات. ومن خلال التركيز على الناجيات من العنف الجنسي المرتبط بالنزاعات والأطفال المتضررين من تنظيم داعش على وجه الخصوص، أصبح العراق من أوائل البلدان في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا التي تعترف بخطورة هذا العنف وتتخذ خطوات لتلبية الاحتياجات الخاصة بالنساء والأطفال.

كما يعترف القانون رسميًا بالإبادة الجماعية ويقر بارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية في حق هذه الجماعات.

قام كل من يزدا وشبكة الناجيات الأيزيديات وشركاؤها بدعم الحكومة العراقية لتحسين القانون منذ مارس 2019، ومنذ إقراره في عام 2021، دعت باستمرار إلى تنفيذ القانون بشكل فعال ومركز على الناجين.

يزدا ممتنة لإنشاء المديرية العامة لشؤون الناجين (GDSA)، وافتتاح مكتب في الموصل، وتكليف موظفين مخلصين لتنفيذ الخدمات التي يوفرها القانون. علاوة على ذلك، تقدر يزدا العمل الذي قامت به السلطات لإنشاء نموذج وموقع مخصص.

وبينما أُحرز تقدم، لا تزال هناك عوائق كبيرة تحول دون حصول الناجين على معلومات كافية عن القانون وتمكينهم من الحصول على جميع الاستحقاقات بموجب القانون. لكي يفي القانون بوعوده، تقترح يزدا التركيز على أربعة مجالات ذات أولوية:

أولاً ، يجب على الحكومة العراقية تخصيص ما يكفي من الأموال سنويًا لوزارة العمل والشؤون الاجتماعية (MoLSA) التي تعمل بموجبها مديرية شؤون الناجيات والتي تم إنشاؤها لتنفيذ القانون. هذا ضروري للتأكد من أن المزايا بموجب القانون يتم تقديمها لجميع الناجيات المستحقات في الوقت المناسب وبطريقة مستمرة.

ثانيًا ، يجب على الحكومة اتخاذ خطوات ملموسة لضمان اعتماد نهج يركز على الناجيات عند تنفيذ القانون. وعلى وجه الخصوص، من المهم تدريب جميع الموظفين على الممارسات الواعية بالصدمات لتجنب وصم الناجيات وإعادة تعرضهن للصدمات أثناء العملية الكاملة لتقديم الطلبات. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، ذكرن بعض الناجيات أن شرط توفير أوراق التحقيق للحصول على الاستحقاقات مرهق للغاية.

ثالثًا ، يجب على الحكومة العراقية التأكد من أنها تدفع راتبًا شهريًا لمن يحق لهم الحصول عليه. تعتمد معظم الناجيات على هذا الراتب لإعالة أنفسهن وعائلاتهن.

وأخيرا ، ينبغي تنفيذ أحكام القانون المتعلقة بالحقوق الاجتماعية والصحية والتعليمية. وينبغي لجميع دوائر الدولة ذات الصلة أن تعمل بطريقة منسقة للتأكد من تنفيذ هذه الأحكام لأن الحقوق الاجتماعية والصحية والتعليمية ضرورية لإعادة تأهيل الناجيات وإعادة إدماجهن في المجتمع.

يمثل قانون الناجيات الأيزيديات خطوة مهمة في فترة انتعاش العراق بعد الصراع. وبإقرار القانون، تبدي السلطات استعدادها لدعم الناجيات للحصول على تعويضات، فضلا عن المصالحة. تشجع يزدا تصرفات الحكومة العراقية لكن تحثها على تسريع الجهود لتحقيق الأهداف المقصودة من القانون.

علقت شبكة الناجيات الأيزيديات : تعتبر الذكرى الثانية هذه لقانون الناجيات الأيزيديات فرصة لنا للتفكير في النجاحات التي حققتها القانون ولتذكير انفسنا بأن هذه ليست الا بداية لتحقيق العدالة للناجين من جرائم وعنف داعش في العراق .على الرغم من أن إنشاء هذا القانون كان استجابة للإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبها داعش ضد المجتمع الأيزيدي في ٢٠١٤، الا انه يشمل جميع ضحايا داعش من مختلف الاقليات .يجب تنفيذ هذا القانون بشكل شامل لأن الهدف منه ليس لفائدة أقلية بعينها بل لفائدة الإنسانية والكرامة.

قم بتنزيل البيان من هنا .

iq.media@yazda.org

+964 751 724 9836

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Second anniversary of the Yazidi Survivors’ Law: achievements and remaining challenges

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:26:33 GMT

01 March 2023

Today marks two years since Iraq passed the historic Yazidi Female Survivors’ Law (YSL) . The passing of this law on 1 ^st March 2021 represents an important step in efforts to address ISIL's crimes against Yazidis and other minority groups. The law establishes a framework to provide economic, social, and symbolic reparations to Yazidi, Christian, Shabak, and Turkmen survivors. By focusing on female survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and children affected by ISIL in particular, Iraq became one of the first countries in the Middle East and North Africa region to recognize the seriousness of such violence and to take steps to address women and children’s specific needs.

The law also formally recognises the genocide and acknowledges that crimes against humanity were committed against these groups.

From March 2019, Yazda, the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN) and its partners supported the Iraqi government to improve the law, and since its passing in 2021 have continuously advocated for the law’s effective and survivor-centered implementation.

Yazda is grateful for the establishment of the General Directorate of Survivors' Affairs (GDSA), the opening of an office in Mosul and the assignment of dedicated staff to implement the services provided by the law. Moreover, Yazda acknowledges the work done by the authorities to establish a form and a dedicated website.

First , the Iraqi government must allocate enough funds yearly to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) under which the Directorate for Survivors Affairs, created to implement the law, operates. This is essential to make sure that the benefits under the law are delivered to all eligible survivors in a timely and continuous manner.

Second , the government must take concrete steps to ensure that a survivor-centered approach is adopted when implementing the law. In particular, it is important that all personnel are trained in trauma-informed practices to avoid stigmatization and re-traumatization of survivors during the entire application process. In addition, some survivors mentioned that the requirement to provide investigative papers to access benefits is overly burdensome.

Third , the Iraqi government must ensure that it pays a monthly salary to those who are entitled to it. Most survivors are dependent on this salary to support themselves and their families.

Finally , the law’s provisions concerning social, health, and education rights should be implemented. All relevant state services should act in a coordinated way to ensure these provisions are implemented since social, health, and education rights are necessary for the rehabilitation of survivors and their reintegration into society.

The YSL marks an important step in Iraq's post-conflict recovery. By passing the law, the authorities are demonstrating their willingness to support survivors to obtain reparations, as well as reconciliation. Yazda is encouraged by the Iraqi government’s actions but urges it to accelerate efforts to achieve the law’s intended goals.

The Yazidi Survivors Network commented: "This second anniversary of the Yazidi Survivors’ Law is a time for us to reflect on the successes of the law but also remind ourselves that this is merely the beginning of the work to bring justice for survivors of ISIL crimes and violence in Iraq. Even though this law was created in response to ISlL’s 2014 genocide against the Yazidi community, it also extends to all victims of ISIL who are from minority communities. This law must be implemented in full because it is not just a fight for one minority but a fight for humanity and dignity.

Download Press Release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

iq.media@yazda.org

+964 751 724 9836

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Joint Press Release by Yazda and Amal Clooney on the First ISIL member to be tried in the Netherlands for crimes against the Yazidis

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 19:26:17 GMT

15 February 2023

A Dutch woman, Hasna A. appeared before the Hague District Court in the Netherlands, suspected of several crimes, including slavery as a crime against humanity and membership in a terrorist organisation. According to the Dutch authorities , the Dutch ISIL returnee is accused of holding a Yazidi female survivor, only referred to as Z. for her safety, as a slave for several months in 2015. Hasna A. allegedly forced Z. to carry out housework for several hours a day. The prosecutors relied on Z.’s and two other witnesses’ testimonies to build their case.

Yazda and Nadia’s Initiative welcome this historic development, as this is the first time the Netherlands are bringing a case against an alleged ISIL member for crimes against the Yazidi community. On 3 August 2014, ISIL commenced its genocidal campaign against the Yazidi people. Both a UN Commission of Inquiry and UNITAD concluded that ISIL’s acts against the Yazidi community amount to crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, as has Germany’s highest court .

The accused, along with eleven other female Dutch nationals suspected of being members of ISIL appeared yesterday and today before Dutch courts for pro forma hearings. These are hearings where the courts decide whether the women should continue to be held in pre-trial detention. The courts will not decide on questions of guilt at this stage. All twelve women were repatriated from a prison camp in Syria in November last year.

Yazda will follow the proceedings closely. It is hoped they will be the start of further criminal trials in the Netherlands against ISIL members for crimes against Yazidis.

So far, Germany has been the only country prosecuting ISIL members for international crimes against the Yazidis along with other countries carrying out investigations, notably France and Sweden . Germany convicted two ISIL members for genocide to date, and an additional ISIL member is currently on trial in Koblenz for this crime. Just last month, the highest German court confirmed the first ever genocide conviction against the Yazidi community.

Five other ISIL members have been convicted by German courts for crimes against humanity and war crimes for their attacks against the Yazidi community in the last few years.

These trials in European jurisdictions are crucial for survivors as they remain for now their sole avenue for justice. Indeed, Iraq has to date still not codified the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes within its criminal legal system. Without this, crimes committed by ISIL against the Yazidi community and other minorities cannot be prosecuted to their full extent in Iraq.

Natia Navrouzov , Legal Advocacy Director at Yazda commented: “We commend the Dutch investigators and prosecutors who have been working tirelessly to identify Yazidi survivors who were held captive by Dutch nationals or residents of the Netherlands. We will continue to support their work and Yazidi survivors who want to join these proceedings.”

Amal Clooney , a British barrister who represents Yazidi survivors and Yazda commented: “I congratulate the Dutch authorities for bringing this important case. But nearly a decade after ISIL genocidal campaign against the Yazidi people began, this is only the second jurisdiction that is trying ISIL fighters for these crimes. I hope that other states will finally follow their lead.”

Download statement here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

iq.media@yazda.org

+964 751 724 9836

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بيان صحفي مشترك من قبل منظمة يزدا وامل كلوني حول محاكمة أول عنصر داعش مشتبه به في هولندا بتهمة إرتكاب جرائم ضد الإيزيديين

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 19:26:14 GMT

ستمثل امرأة تدعى حسنة أ. مشتبه في عضويتها في داعش أمام محكمة مقاطعة لاهاي في هولندا، ووجهت إليها إتهامات بأرتكاب عدة جرائم، بينها الإسترقاق كجريمة ضد الإنسانية وعضوية في منظمة إرهابية. وفقاً للسلطات الهولندية ، المواطنة الهولندية الداعشية العائدة متهمة بإحتجاز ناجية إيزيدية ، يشار إليها "ز" إختصارًا وذلك من اجل حمايتها، كعبيدة لعدة اشهر في عام 2015. ويزعم أن حسنة أ. أجبرت "ز." على القيام بأعمال منزلية لعدة ساعات في اليوم. واعتمد المدعون على شهادات "ز" وشاهدين آخرين لبناء قضيتهم.

ترحب يزدا ومبادرة نادية بهذه اللحظة التاريخية، حيث أنها المرة الأولى التي ستقوم هولندا بمحاكمة عنصر داعش مزعوم بإرتكاب جرائم بحق المجتمع الإيزيدي. في الثالث من آب عام 2014، بدأ تنظيم داعش حملته للإبادة الجماعية ضد الأيزيديين. اختتمت لجنة التحقيق التابعة للأمم المتحدة و يونيتاد على أن جرائم داعش بحق المجتمع الأيزيدي ترقى لمستوى جرائم ضد الإنسانية، جرائم حرب، و الإبادة الجماعية مثلما فعلت محكمة ألمانيا العليا .

مثلت المتهمة، مع 11 مواطنة هولندية اخرى يشتبه في كونهن عناصر داعش، امام محاكم هولندية اليوم والأمس لعقد جلسات استماع شكلية. ستقرر المحكمة خلال جلسات الاستماع هذه ما إذا كان ينبغي إبقاء النساء في الاحتجاز ما قبل المحاكمة. لن تقرر المحاكم مسائل الذنب في هذه المرحلة. تم إعادة جميع النساء الاثنتي عشرة الى وطنهن من معسكر الإعتقال في سوريا في شهر نوفمبر من العام الماضي.

ستتابع يزدا المحاكمات عن كثب. من المؤمل أن يكنّ بدايةً للمزيد من المحاكمات الجنائية في هولندا ضد عناصر داعش لإرتكابهم جرائم ضد الإيزيديين.

الى آلان، المانيا هي البلد الوحيد الذي يقاضي عناصر داعش ويحاكمهم عن الجرائم الدولية ضد الإيزيديين بالإضافة الى بلدان أخرى تجري تحقيقات، كفرنسا و سويد . أدانت ألمانيا عنصرين من داعش بتهم الإبادة الجماعية، وهناك عنصر داعش آخر يخضع للمحاكمة حالياً في كوبلنز عن هذه الجريمة. في الشهر الماضي، أكدت محكمة ألمانيا العليا أول إدانة بالإبادة الجماعية المرتكبة ضد المجتمع الإيزيدي.

أدانت المحاكم الألمانية خمسة عناصر آخرين من داعش بارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب ولهجماتهم ضد المجتمع الأيزيدي في السنوات القليلة الماضية.

تعتبرهذه المحاكمات في المحاكم الاوربية ذات أهمية كبيرة للناجين لأنها تعتبر في الوقت الحالي سبيلهم الوحيد لتحقيق العدالة. في الواقع، لم يقنن العراق حتى الآن جريمة الإبادة الجماعية والجرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم الحرب ضمن نظامه القانوني الجنائي. بدون ذلك، لا يمكن مقاضاة الجرائم التي ارتكبها داعش ضد المجتمع الإيزيدي والأقليات الأخرى بشكل كامل في العراق.

علقت ناتيا نافروزوف ، مديرة المناصرة القانونية في يزدا، " نحن نشيد بجهود المحققين والمدعين العامين الهولنديين الذين يعملون دون كلل لتحديد ضحايا الإيزيديين الذين تم آسرهم من قبل مواطنين هولنديين والمقيمين في هولندا. سنواصل دعم عملهم والناجين الإيزيديين الذين يريدون الإنضمام الى هذه الإجراءات"

علقت أمل كلوني ، وهي محامية بريطانية تمثل الناجين الإيزيديين ومنظمة يزدا: "أهنئ السلطات الهولندية على رفع هذه القضية المهمة. ولكن بعد ما يقارب عقد من الزمن بعد بداية حملة الإبادة الجماعية لداعش ضد المجتمع الإيزيدي، هذه الولاية القضائية الثانية التي تحاكم عناصر لإرتكابهم جرائم دولية. آمل أن تحذو الدول الأخرى حذوها."

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محكمة العدل الأتحادية الألمانية تؤكد الاستئناف في أول إدانة ضد أحد عناصر داعش بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 13:30:48 GMT

31 يناير 2023

بيان صحفي لمحامية الضحية أمل كلوني، ناتالي فون فيستنجهاوزن، الدكتور يورغ أوسترل، المنظمة الأيزيدية غير الحكومية، يزدا، والحائزة على جائزة نوبل للسلام، نادية مراد.

في قرار صُدر الأسبوع المنصرم، أكدت محكمة العدل الأتحادية الألمانية على إدانة العنصر الداعشي المدعو طه أ. ج. بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية وارتكابه جرائم ضد الإنسانية، وجرائم الحرب أرتكبها ضد ضحايا إيزيديين في فلوجة، العراق. في نوفمبر/تشرين الثاني 2021، أدانت المحكمة الأقليمية العليا في مدينة فرانكفورت العراقي المدعو طه في محاكمة تاريخية لإستعباده وإساءة معاملته الشنيعة لإمرأة إيزيدية وابنتها التي كانت تبلغ من العمر خمس سنوات والتي فقدت حياتها أثر ذلك. تم تأكيد إدانته بجريمة الإبادة الجماعية والحكم بالسجن مدى الحياة في محكمة الأستئناف ولا يمكن الطعن في القرار. هذه اول إدانة لأحد عناصر داعش بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية في جميع انحاء العالم وقرار الحكم لا رجعة فيه.

وجدت المحكمة الإقليمية العليا في فرانكفورت في حكمها الصادر في نوفمبر/تشرين الثاني 2021 ما يلي:

- في صيف 2015، العنصر الداعشي طه أ. ج. «اشترى» واستعبد مع زوجته فتاة إيزيدية كانت تبلغ من العمر خمس سنوات تدعى ريدا ووالدتها.

- كانت ريدا ووالدتها أسيرتين ضمن مجموعة من السجناء الأيزيديين واحتجزتهما الزوجان في مقر إقامتهما في الفلوجة، حيث

اجبرتا على ممارسة الإسلام، العمل كعبيد مع عدم الحصول على الغذاء الكافي.

- وتعرض الأسيرتان للضرب المبرح على يد طه أ. ج. وتعرضتا لانواع أخرى من سوء المعاملة؛ عاشت الأم وابنتها في خوف دائم.

- فارقت ريدا الحياة في نهاية المطاف بعد أن قام طه أ. ج. بقيدها خارج المنزل بقضبان النافذة وتركها معلقة في الحر الشديد بلغ 51 درجة مئوية كعقوبة لتبللها في الفراش و كوسيلة لتأديب الفتاة.

- أراد طه أ. ج. من خلال أفعاله تقديم مساهمة متعمدة لهدف داعش المعلن والمتمثل بتدمير الديانة الأيزيدية بحد ذاتها بالإضافة

الى اعضائها الذين أعتبرهم «بلا قيمة» من أجل تأسيس خلافة أسلامية.

استأنف المدعى عليه الإدانة والحكم لكن الاستئناف رُفض. في المقابل، أكدت محكمة العدل الأتحادية الألمانية أن النتائج الوقائعية للمحكمة الإقليمية العليا خلت من أية أخطاء قانونية وأيدت التقييم بأن المدعى عليه مدان بارتكاب جرائم الإبادة الجماعية واثبتت الحكم بالسجن مدى الحياة.

أكدت محكمة العدل الأتحادية أن ’ أفعال المدعي عليه، التي سببت أذى بليغ لريدا ]وأمها[، بالتزامن مع أفعال مشابهة لعناصر أخرو ن من داعش، كانت قادرة على تدمير الجماعة الكردية المتبعة للدين الإيزيدي ‘. وأضافت المحكمة ’ الاستعباد المنظم للنساء والفتيات على وجه التحديد، لا سيما فيما يتعلق بإعادة التعليم الديني، هو الذي أدى إلى تدمير الأقلية الدينية الإيزيدية من أجل إقامة خلافة إسلامية بشكل عام، كان النهج قادرًا على تحقيق... التدمير (الجزئي) لهذه المجموعة‘.

شاركت والدة ريدا في الإجراءات ضد طه أ. ج. كمدعية مشاركة بعد أن تعرفت عليها منظمة يزدا غير الحكومية، حددت مكانها في العراق، ويسرت مشاركتها في الإجراءات. جمعت منظمة يزدا آلاف الشهادات من الناجين الإيزيديين وأجرت مقابلة مع المدعية المشاركة قبل عامين من بدء المحاكمة. مثلها خلال المحاكمة فريق قانوني مكون من أمل كلوني ومحامون ألمان، كل من ناتالي فون فيستنجهاوزن والدكتور يورغ أوسترل.

وتعليقًا على قرار الاستئناف، قالت المستشارة القانونية للضحية، أمل كلوني : ’بهذا الحكم، أكدت أعلى محكمة في ألمانيا أن داعش ارتكب إبادة جماعية. شهدت موكلتي بكل شجاعة ضد المعتدي عليها والأن تستطيع ان تتنفس الصعداء: الشخص الذي استعبدها، قتل ابنتها، وسعى لتدمير مجتمعها أُدين بالسجن مدى الحياة. أهنئ المدعين الألمان الذين رفعوا هذه القضية وآمل أن يحذو الآخرون في جميع أنحاء العالم حذوهم. ‘

علقت ناتالي فون فيستنجهاوزن والدكتور يورغ أوستر ل: ’هذا القرار هو نتيجة مراجعة شاملة للوقائع ونتائجها القانونية. إنه ذو أهمية بالغة لموكلتنا ومجتمعها. إنه يرسل إشارة قوية أخرى إلى أن الجرائم المرتكبة يمكن وستتم مقاضاتها على أكمل وجه بموجب القانون ونأمل أن تجلب بعض السلام لموكلتنا. لو لا إفادتها التي اتسمت بالشجاعة لما أصبحت الإدانة ممكنة. وكان من المناسب جدًا أن يُصدر هذا القرار التاريخي قبل يومين من قيام البرلمان الألماني بخطوة مهمة أخرى طال أنتظارها في 19 يناير 2023، والتي هي أعلان الإعتراف بالإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية.‘

أضافت ناتيا نافرازوف , مديرة المناصرة القانونية لدى المنظمة الأيزيدية العالمية غير الحكومية٫ يزدا: ’رحب المجتمع الايزيدي في العالم عامة والعراق خاصة بأول إدانة بالإبادة الجماعية في نهاية عام 2021 كقرار تاريخي. نثني ألمانيا على تأكيدها لهذا القرار وتثبيته.‘

علقت نادية مراد ، الحائزة على جائزة نوبل للسلام والتي هي نفسها ناجية تعرضت للأستعباد والتعذيب على ايادي داعش: ’ تتحقق اليوم خطوة مهمة أخرى نحو تحقيق العدالة لنفسي وللناجين الأيزيديين الآخرين. تعتبر إدانات عناصر داعش بالإبادة الجماعية غاية في الاهمية لعملية الشفاء لدينا؛ انها تؤكد لنا أن العالم قد شهد ويستنكر المحاولات الرامية للقضاء على الشعب الأيزيدي. طه أ. ج. كان أول من أُدين بالإبادة الجماعية، لكنه لن يكون الأخير.‘

الخلفية

منذ أغسطس 2014، تم استهداف المجتمع الإيزيدي في العراق وسوريا من قبل داعش خلال حملة منظمة لعمليات الإعدام والاستعباد والعنف الجنسي والتجنيد القسري للأطفال وكذلك الترحيل القسري لما يقارب 400,000 أيزيدي من موطنهم في العراق. بعد مرور حوالي 9 سنوات على هجوم داعش، ما زال الاف النساء والأطفال الإيزيديين الذين اخططفهم واستعبدهم داعش في عداد المفقودين. وتم الإعتراف بهذه الجرائم من قبل الأمم المتحدة وجهات محلية وعالمية وفي الأونة الأخيرة محاكم ألمانية على انها إبادة جماعية.

قامت المحاكم الألمانية لحد الآن بإدانة عنصرين من داعش بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية لجرائمهم ضد الأيزيديين.

- تم إصدار الحكم من قبل المحكمة الأقليمية العليا لفرانكفورت في تشرين الثاني عام 2021 بحق المواطن العراقي طه أ. ج. وهذه أول إدانة لأحد عناصر داعش بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية حول العالم. على الرغم ان طه أ. ج. ليس مواطناً ألمانياً وضحاياه ليسوا ألمانيين ولم تُرتكب جرائمه على الأراضي الألمانية ولكن للمحاكم الألمانية سلطتها القضائية على جرائم الإبادة الجماعية وجرائم الحرب وجرائم ضد الإنسانية بموجب مبدأ الولاية القضائية العالمية. حُكم على زوجته، جينيفر و.، التي هي مواطنة ألمانية بالسجن لعشر سنوات في محاكمة منفصلة في الشهر السابق لمشاركتها في جرائم ضد ريدة ووالدتها. عقد جلسة إستئناف على قضية جينيفر و. اليوم أمام محكمة العدل الفيدرالية. ستصدر المحكمة قرارها في 9 أذار 2023.

- أصدرت المحكمة الإقليمية العليا في هامبورغ إدانة ثانية بالإبادة الجماعية في تموز 2022 ضد مواطنة ألمانية عائدة من صفوف داعش جلدة أ . الحكم نهائي لأن المدعى عليه سحب استئنافها.

- القضية الحالية ضد نادين ك . أمام محكمة كوبلنز الإقليمية العليا هي ثالث محاكمة بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية.

كما أدانت المحاكم الألمانية سابقًا 5 عناصر أخرون من داعش لارتكابهم جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب كجزء من جرائم داعش ضد الإيزيديين في 6 قضايا. هي القضايا رفعت ضد كل من جنيفر و .، سارة و .، نورتن ج .، أميمة أ .(التي واجهت محاكمتين منفصلتين)، و رومينا س.

ملاحظة للمحررين

بموجب القانون الألماني, ضحايا الجرائم الجسيمة لها الحق بالمشاركة في الإجراءات الجنائية كمدعيين جنباً إلى جنب مع الإدعاء والدفاع. وتمثل الضحية في هذه الحالة جزءاً في برنامج حماية الشاهد. لم يتم الكشف عن هويتها حفاظاً على سلامتها.

لا يسمح القانون اللألماني عادةً بالكشف عن الأسم الكامل لعوائل المتهمين ولذلك يُدعى المتهم طه أ.ج. خلال هذا البيان.

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German Federal Court of Justice confirms the first-ever conviction of an ISIS member for genocide

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 13:27:01 GMT

31 January 2023

Justice Rapid Response, Yazda and the Clooney Foundation for Justice are co-hosting an innovative and interactive event inviting guests to an open dialogue with survivors of the Yazidi genocide.

In a decision published last week, the German Federal Court of Justice confirmed the conviction against ISIS member Taha A.-J. for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed against Yazidi victims in Fallujah, Iraq. In November 2021, the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt convicted Iraqi national Taha in a landmark trial for his enslavement and abuse of a Yazidi woman and her five-year-old daughter which resulted in the girl’s death. Both the genocide conviction and life sentence were affirmed on appeal, and no further appeal is possible. This is the first-ever conviction of an ISIS member for genocide anywhere in the world, and the judgment is now final.

The Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt found in its November 2021 judgment that:

- In the summer of 2015, ISIS member Taha ‘purchased’ and, together with his wife, enslaved a five-year-old Yazidi girl named Reda and her mother.

- Reda and her mother were part of a group of Yazidi prisoners and the couple held them as captives at their residence in Fallujah. They forced them to practice Islam, work as slaves and deprived them of sufficient food.

- Both captives were violently beaten by Taha and subjected to other abuse; mother and daughter lived in constant fear.

- Reda ultimately died after Taha tied her with a cable outdoors to the bars of the window and left her in the scorching heat of up to 51 degrees Celsius as a punishment for wetting the bed and a measure to ‘discipline’ the girl.

- Through the physical and psychological damage caused to his Yazidi slaves, Taha wanted to make a purposeful contribution to ISIS’ declared goal of destroying the Yazidi faith and its members – who he deemed ‘worthless’ – in order to establish an Islamic caliphate.

The defendant appealed the conviction and sentence but the appeal was rejected. Instead, the German Federal Court of Justice confirmed the Higher Regional Court’s factual findings, supported the legal assessment that the defendant is guilty of genocide and upheld the life sentence.

The Federal Court of Justice confirmed that ‘[t]he defendant's actions, which caused serious harm to Reda [and her mother], in conjunction with similar actions by other lSIS members, were capable of destroying the Kurdish religious group of the Yazidi faith’. The Court added that ‘[i]t was precisely the organised enslavement of women and girls, especially in connection with religious re-education, that served to destroy the Yazidis religious minority in order to establish an Islamic caliphate. All in all, the approach was capable of bringing about … the (partial) destruction of this group as such.’

Reda’s mother participated in the proceedings against Taha as a co-plaintiff after the NGO Yazda identified her, located her in Iraq and facilitated her participation in the proceedings. Yazda has collected thousands of testimonies from Yazidi survivors and had interviewed the co-plaintiff two years prior to the start of the trial. During the trial, she was represented by a legal team consisting of Amal Clooney and German lawyers Natalie von Wistinghausen and Dr. Jörg Oesterle.

Commenting on the appeal decision, victim’s counsel Amal Clooney said: ‘With this judgment, Germany’s highest court has confirmed that ISIS committed genocide. My client bravely testified against her abuser and can now breathe a sigh of relief: the man who enslaved her, killed her daughter and sought to wipe out her community has been sentenced to life in prison. I congratulate the German prosecutors who brought this case and hope that others around the world will follow their example.'

Natalie von Wistinghausen and Dr. Jörg Oesterle commented: ‘This decision is the result of a thorough review of the facts and its legal consequences. Its importance for our client and her community cannot be overestimated. It sends out yet another strong signal that the crimes committed can and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and will hopefully bring some peace to our client. Only her courageous testimony made this conviction possible. It is particularly fitting that this landmark decision was published just a couple of days before on 19 ^th January 2023 the German Parliament took another important and long-awaited step by publicly recognizing the genocide of the Yazidi.’

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director at the global NGO Yazda added: ‘This first genocide conviction at the end of 2021 was welcomed as a historical decision by the Yazidi community, including the community in Iraq. We commend Germany for confirming it and setting it in stone.’

Nadia Murad , Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, who is herself a survivor of enslavement and torture at the hands of ISIS, commented: ‘Today is yet another step toward justice for myself and other Yazidi survivors. Convictions of ISIS members for genocide are vital to our healing process; they let us know that the world has seen, and condemns, the efforts to eradicate the Yazidi people. Taha A.-J. was the first to be convicted of genocide, but he will not be the last.’

Background

From August 2014, the Yazidi community in Iraq and Syria was targeted by ISIS through an organised campaign of executions, enslavement, sexual violence, and forced recruitment of child soldiers, as well as the forced displacement of an estimated 400,000 Yazidis from their homeland in Iraq. Almost 9 years after ISIS’ onslaught began, thousands of Yazidi women and children who were abducted and enslaved by ISIS remain missing. These crimes have been recognised by the United Nations , national and international bodies and, more recently, German courts as amounting to genocide.

German courts have so far convicted two ISIS members of genocide for their crimes against the Yazidis.

- The judgment issued by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt in November 2021 against Iraqi national Taha A.-J. represents the first conviction of an ISIS member for genocide anywhere in the world. Although Taha is not a German national, his victims are not German and his crimes have not been committed on German territory, German courts have jurisdiction over the crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity under the principle of universal jurisdiction. His wife, ‘Jennifer W.’, a German national, was sentenced in a separate trial to 10 years in prison for her own involvement in the crimes against Reda and her mother. An appeal hearing in the case against Jennifer W. took place today before the Federal Court of Justice. The Court will issue its decision on 9 March 2023.

- A second genocide conviction was handed down in July 2022 against German ISIS returnee Jalda A. by the Higher Regional Court of Hamburg. The judgment is final as the defendant has withdrawn her appeal.

- The recent case against Nadine K. before the Higher Regional Court of Koblenz is the third trial charging genocide.

German courts have previously also convicted 5 additional ISIS members of crimes against humanity and war crimes for their involvement in ISIS’ crimes against the Yazidis in 6 cases. These are the cases against Jennifer W. , Sarah O. , Nurten J. , Omaima A. (who faced two separate trials) and Romiena S .

Ms. Clooney, Ms. von Wistinghausen, Ms. Mehner and/or Mr. Oesterle represent(ed) the Yazidi victims in all nine cases.

Note to editors:

Under German law, victims of grave crimes have the right to participate in criminal proceedings as ‘co-plaintiffs’ alongside the prosecution and defence. The victim in this case is part of a witness protection program. For her safety, her identity is not being revealed.

German law normally also does not permit disclosure of defendants’ full surnames. The defendant is therefore identified as ‘Taha A.-J.’ throughout this statement.

Download statement here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

Tamaze Navrouzov, Communications Coordinator

p: +33 7 83 38 25 24

e: tamaze.navrouzov@yazda.org

###

بيان مشترك صادر عن يزدا وشبكة الناجيات الأيزيديات بشأن اعتراف البرلمان الألماني بالإبادة الجماعية الأيزيدية

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 13:17:21 GMT

Yazda

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إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

19 كانون الثاني، 2023

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

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رداً على التصويت بالإجماع من قبل مجلس النواب الألماني للاعتراف بالإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبها داعش ضد المجتمع الإيزيدي، أصدرت شبكة الناجيات الأيزيديات (YSN) ويزدا البيان التالي:

ترحب شبكة الناجيات الإيزيديات و يزدا بقرار البرلمان الألماني بالاعتراف رسميًا بالجرائم التي ارتكبها داعش ضد المجتمع الإيزيدي باعتبارها إبادة جماعية. في حين أن القرار ليس له أي تأثير على المحاكمات الجنائية، إلا أنه يمثل خطوة رمزية مهمة إلى الأمام وسيساعد في مزيد من العدالة والمساءلة والجهود الإنسانية للمجتمع الأيزيدي.

نعرب عن امتناننا الكبير للحكومة والبرلمان الألماني لدعمهم للمجتمع الإيزيدي وقيادتهم وجهودهم للتصدي للجرائم الدولية التي ارتكبها داعش على مدى السنوات الثماني الماضية. أدانت ألمانيا وحدها عنصرين من داعش بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية حتى الآن، ويحاكم عنصر اخر من داعش حاليًا في كوبلنز لأرتكابه نفس الجريمة. أدانت المحاكم الألمانية خمسة عناصر آخرين من داعش بارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب بسبب هجماتهم ضد المجتمع الإيزيدي. ألمانيا تأتي في المرتبة الثانية من حيث تواجد أعلى عدد من السكان الأيزيديين بعد العراق وأصبحت وطنًا للكثيرين، وخاصة الناجين.

على الرغم من أن داعش ارتكب أعمال إبادة جماعية ضد الإيزيديين، بما في ذلك القتل الجماعي والفردي والتعذيب والاغتصاب و الأستعباد الجنسي والاعتداء وغيره من الأفعال الوحشية والمهينة بقصد القضاء على السكان الإيزيديين، فإن غالبية مرتكبي الإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية لم يتم تقديمهم بعد إلى العدالة عن الجرائم الدولية سواء في العراق أو على الصعيد الدولي. يمثل هذا القرار الذي اتخذه البرلمان الألماني خطوة إيجابية نحو الإعتراف بالإبادة الجماعية على نطاق واسع والسعي لتحقيق العدالة الإصلاحية للمجتمع الإيزيدي.

لا تزال شبكة الناجيات الأيزيدييات و يزدا ملتزمتين بمتابعة زيادة عدد المعترفين بالإبادة الجماعية، فضلاً عن العدالة والمساءلة عن الجرائم التي ارتكبها داعش. ونشجع المجتمع الدولي على أن يحذو حذو ألمانيا وعشرات الدول والمؤسسات التي سبق أن اعترفت بالإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية، بما في ذلك الأمم المتحدة.

و قال أعضاء الشبكة ما يلي:

هذه سابقة ليست جديدة على شعب ألمانيا. استضافت ألمانيا الجالية الإيزيدية داخل حدودها وأعطتهم الوطن لعقود عديدة. لقد رفعت هذه الخطوة المتمثلة في الاعتراف بالإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية من القيم الإنسانية الأساسية التي بنيت في قلب ألمانيا وشعب ألمانيا. لذلك، نأمل أن تتبع الدول الأخرى هذه القيم وتفرض العدالة التي يجب أن تحاسب الجناة وتجعل الناجين الأيزيديين يشعرون أنهم تلقوا المساعدة وأن الإنسانية ليست ميّتة.

وأضاف حيدر الياس، رئيس يزدا:

يعتبر اعتراف البرلمان الألماني بالإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية خطوة رئيسية وعلامة فارقة نحو مناصرة المجتمع. والخطوات التي تلي هذه العملية بالغة الأهمية بالنسبة لمستقبل المجتمع المحلي في سنجار وكذلك في مخيمات النازحين. بعد هذا الحدث الكبير ستكون الكرة في ملعبنا ونحن بحاجة إلى استغلال هذه الفرصة وهذا التعاطف من أجل مصلحة المجتمع ومصيره.

قم بتنزيل البيان من هنا .

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يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

Joint Statement by Yazda and the Yazidi Survivors Network on Recognition of Yazidi Genocide by German Parliament

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 18:02:27 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

January 19, 2023

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Yazda

+964 751 724 9836

iq.media@yazda.org

In response to the unanimous vote by Germany’s Lower House of Parliament to recognise the genocide committed against the Yazidi community by ISIS, the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN) and Yazda issue the following statement:

The YSN and Yazda welcome the motion by the German Parliament to officially recognize crimes committed against the Yazidi community by ISIS as genocide. While the motion has no bearing on criminal trials, it represents an important symbolic step forward and will help further justice, accountability and humanitarian efforts for the Yazidi community.

We extend our immense gratitude to the German Government and Parliament for their support to the Yazidi community and their leadership and efforts to address international crimes committed by ISIS over the past eight years. Germany alone has convicted two ISIS members for genocide to date, and an additional ISIS member is currently on trial in Koblenz for this crime. Five other ISIS members have been convicted by German courts for crimes against humanity and war crimes for their attacks against the Yazidi community. Germany is also the country with the second highest population of Yazidis after Iraq and has become a homeland for many, especially survivors.

Although, ISIS committed genocidal acts against the Yazidis, including mass and individual killings, torture, rape, sexual slavery, abuse and other inhumane and degrading treatment with the intent of decimating the Yazidi population, the majority of perpetrators of the Yazidi genocide have not yet been brought to justice for international crimes either in Iraq or internationally. This decision by the German Parliament represents a positive step towards widespread recognition of the genocide and the pursuit of restorative justice for the Yazidi community.

The YSN and Yazda remain committed to pursuing increased recognition of the genocide, as well as justice and accountability for crimes committed by ISIS. We encourage the international community to follow the example set by Germany and dozens of states and institutions which have previously recognized the Yazidi genocide, including the United Nations.

Members of the YSN commented:

This is a precedent step which is not new for the People of Germany. Germany has hosted the Yazidi diaspora community within its border and gave them home for many decades. This action of recognizing the Yazidis Genocide has risen from the human core values built in the heart of Germany and the people of Germany. Therefore, we are hopeful that other nations follow these values and impose Justice that should hold perpetrators accountable and make the Yazidi survivors feel that they have been helped and humanity is not dead.

Haider Elias, President of Yazda added:

The recognition for the Yazidi genocide by the German Parliament is a major step and a milestone towards advocacy for the community. The steps that follow this process are extremely important for the future of the community in Sinjar as well as in the IDP camps. After this major event the ball will be in our court and we need to use this opportunity and this sympathy for the best interest of the community and its destiny.

Download statement here .

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ISIS member on trial in Germany for aiding and abetting genocide of Yazidis

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 11:10:11 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

January 11, 2023

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Natia Navrouzov

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Press statement by victim’s counsel Amal Clooney, Sonka Mehner and Natalie von Wistinghausen, Yazidi NGO Yazda and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad

A criminal trial began today before the Higher Regional Court of the German city of Koblenz against a German ISIS member accused of aiding and abetting genocide following her abuse of a young Yazidi woman in support of ISIS’ campaign to wipe out the Yazidi community.

The 37-year-old German national known as ‘Nadine K.’ returned to Germany from Syria last year and has been charged with aiding and abetting genocide as well as with war crimes and crimes against humanity including enslavement, religious and gender-based persecution and aiding and abetting rape and torture. A Yazidi survivor, here referred to as N., has joined the proceedings as a co-plaintiff and is the key witness in the case. She is represented by British barrister Amal Clooney and German lawyers Sonka Mehner and Natalie von Wistinghausen.

During today’s opening hearing, prosecutors from the office of the Federal Public Prosecutor General presented the allegations. According to the indictment:

The defendant and her husband travelled to ISIS territory in late 2014 to join the terrorist group.
The couple lived in several places in Iraq and Syria, where the defendant’s husband worked as a doctor for ISIS and treated ISIS fighters and the defendant supported him in this role; they also housed female ISIS members and stored a large number of explosives and weapons in their home.
For about three years, until March 2019, and across different locations, the couple held N. as a slave in their home, where she was raped and subjected to forced labour. The Yazidi woman, who was 21 years old at the time she was brought to their home, had been ‘gifted’ to the defendant’s husband by ISIS and was later transferred to and held at Al-Hol camp until she was able to escape.
The defendant knew that her husband regularly raped N. and beat her including when she tried to resist the rapes. The defendant facilitated the rapes and physical abuse by securing N.’s captivity including during her husband’s absence.
From dawn to dusk, the Yazidi woman was forced to work – she had to clean, cook, take care of the defendant’s children and animals.
The defendant and her husband forced N. to pray 5 times a day according to Islamic rules and to observe fasting times during Ramadan.
The defendant knew about ISIS’ genocidal campaign against the Yazidi religious minority and she knew that her actions served ISIS’ declared goal of destroying the Yazidi faith.

Victim’s counsel Amal Clooney commented on the trial: ‘Yazidi genocide survivors have shown time and time again that they are committed to the pursuit of justice, no matter what the cost. It is an honour to represent the courageous victim in this case and many more survivors determined to have their day in court. And I congratulate Germany’s prosecutors for their work to ensure that ISIS members are not above the law.’

Sonka Mehner who will represent the survivor during the trial commented: ‘This trial is another milestone in coming to terms with the crimes committed by ISIS members against the Yazidi community. In our view, the prosecution is correct in assuming that these crimes amount to genocide. We will work to ensure that our client receives justice for the atrocities committed against her and her people.’

Natalie von Wistinghausen added: ‘Notwithstanding the horror N. has lived through during her year-long captivity, she is another Yazidi survivor who is brave and strong enough to face one of the alleged perpetrators in a courtroom, far away from home and from where the crimes took place. She is determined to give a detailed account of what she has suffered. Like all Yazidi’s, she seeks justice for herself and the whole community.’

Natia Navrouzov , Legal Advocacy Director at the global Yazidi NGO Yazda, which is also represented by Ms. Clooney, has collected thousands of Yazidi survivors’ testimonies and facilitated N.’s participation in the proceedings, added: ‘Once again, Germany is showing its leadership by bringing ISIS members to justice. However, trials in Germany cannot remain the only avenue for justice for ISIS survivors. Iraq and the international community need to design holistic transitional justice measures to address the harms caused by the conflict.’

Nadia Murad , Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, who is herself a survivor of enslavement and torture at the hands of ISIS, commented: ‘I commend N. for her bravery in testifying. It is vital that we continue to offer safe ways for survivors of sexual violence to share their accounts and bring perpetrators to justice. Not only will trials and convictions help with the healing process for individual survivors and the Yazidi community as a whole, they will also help prevent future acts of violence.’

Background

From August 2014, the Yazidi community in Iraq and Syria was targeted by ISIS through an organised campaign of executions, enslavement, sexual violence, and forced recruitment of child soldiers, as well as the forced displacement of an estimated 400,000 Yazidis from their homeland in Iraq. Almost 8 years after ISIS’ attack, thousands of Yazidi women and children who were abducted and enslaved by ISIS remain missing. These crimes have been recognised by the United Nations , national and international bodies and, more recently, German courts as amounting to genocide.

German courts have so far convicted two ISIS members of genocide for their crimes against the Yazidis. The judgment issued by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt in November 2021 against Iraqi national Taha A.-J. represents the first conviction of an ISIS member for genocide anywhere in the world. A second genocide conviction followed in May 2022 against German ISIS returnee Jalda A. . This case against Nadine K. is the third trial charging genocide and is expected to continue at least until the end of March.

The full list of charges against Nadine K. includes:

- Membership in a foreign terrorist organisation;

- Aiding and abetting genocide by

inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction,
causing serious mental harm to members of the group;

- Crimes against humanity including

enslavement,
severe deprivation of liberty,
religious and gender-based persecution;

- Aiding and abetting crimes against humanity including

inflicting with the intent of destroying a population in whole or in part, conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction,
forcible transfer,
torture,
rape
severe mental harm;

- Aiding and abetting war crimes including

torture,
rape,
forcible transfer;

- War crimes against property;

- Human trafficking and exploitation;

- Deprivation of liberty;

- Aiding and abetting rape;

- Violations of the War Weapons Control Act and Weapon’s’ Act.

In Iraq, ISIS members have been prosecuted only under anti-terror laws, not involving survivors in the process and not addressing the full extent of the crimes. Yazda recently published a position paper in coordination with the Coalition for Just Reparation ( C4JR ) to bring fresh momentum to Iraq’s commitment to pursue criminal accountability for international crimes committed by ISIS in Iraq by delineating best international practices on involving survivors and respecting their rights and needs during criminal proceedings. Now that the new government is in place, advocacy on this topic is crucial.

Download press release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

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أحد عناصر داعش قيد المحاكمة في ألمانيا لمساعدته وتحريضه على إرتكاب إبادة جماعية ضد الأيزيديين

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 11:07:57 GMT

ناتيا نوروزوف

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov

yazda.org @

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

١١ كانون الثاني، ٢٠٢٣

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بيان صحافي لمحامية الضحية أمل كلوني، سوناك مينر وناتالي فون فيستنجهاوزن ، المنظمة الأيزيدية غير الحكومية، يزدا، والحائزة على جائزة نوبل للسلام، نادية مراد.

وتناولت بدأت اليوم محاكمة جنائية أمام المحكمة الإقليمية العليا في مدينة كوبلنز الألمانية ضد عنصر ألماني في داعش متهم بالمساعدة والتحريض على الإبادة الجماعية على إثر إعتداءها على شابة أيزيدية دعمًا لحملة داعش لإبادة المجتمع الإيزيدي.

عادت المواطنة الألمانية البالغة من العمر 37 عامًا والمعروفة باسم "نادين ك." إلى ألمانيا من سوريا العام الماضي ووجهت لها تهمة المساعدة والتحريض على الإبادة الجماعية وكذلك بارتكاب جرائم حرب وجرائم ضد الإنسانية بما في ذلك الاسترقاق والاضطهاد الديني والقائم على نوع الجنس بالإضافة الى المساعدة والتحريض على الاغتصاب والتعذيب. انضمت إحدى الناجيات الأيزيديات ، المشار إليها هنا باسم ن. ، إلى المحاكمة بصفتها مدعيًة مشاركًة وهي الشاهد الرئيسي في القضية. ويمثلها المحامية البريطانية أمل كلوني والمحاميتان الألمانيتان سونكا مينر وناتالي فون فيستنجهاوزن.

خلال جلسة الاستماع الافتتاحية اليوم ، تم تقديم إدعاءات من قبل مدعون من مكتب المدعي العام الاتحادي. وبحسب لائحة الاتهام:

- سافرت المدعى عليها وزوجها إلى أراضي داعش في أواخر عام 2014 للانضمام إلى التنظيم الإرهابي.

- عاش الزوجان في عدة أماكن في العراق وسوريا حيث عمل زوج المدعى عليها طبيبًا لداعش وعالج مقاتلي داعش وساندته المدعى عليها في هذا الدور. كما قاموا بإيواء النساء من عناصر من داعش وتخزين عدد كبير من المتفجرات والأسلحة في منزلهما.

- احتجز الزوجان (ن) كعبدة في منزلهما لمدة ثلاث سنوات تقريبًا ، حتى مارس / آذار 2019 وفي مواقع مختلفة ، حيث تعرضت للاغتصاب والعمل القسري. كانت المرأة الأيزيدية ، التي كانت تبلغ من العمر 21 عامًا حين تم إحضارها إلى منزلهما، قد "أهديت" من قبل داعش لزوج المدعى عليها وتم نقلها لاحقًا إلى مخيم الهول حيث احتُجزت حتى تمكنت من الفرار.

- كانت المدعى عليها تعلم أن زوجها يغتصب (ن) بانتظام ويضربها عندما تحاول مقاومة الاغتصاب. قامت المدعى عليها بتسهيل عمليات الاغتصاب والإيذاء الجسدي من خلال تأمين أسر "ن" بما في ذلك أثناء غياب زوجها.

- أُجبرتِ المرأة الأيزيدية على العمل من الفجر حتى الغروب، كان عليها أن تنظف وتطبخ وتعتني بأطفال وحيوانات المدعى عليها.

- قامت المدعى عليها وزوجها بإجبار (ن) على الصلاة خمس مرات في اليوم حسب الشريعة الإسلامية والإلتزام بالصيام خلال شهر رمضان.

- كانت المدعى عليها على علم بحملة الإبادة الجماعية لداعش ضد الأقلية الدينية الأيزيدية وكانت تعلم أن أفعالها تخدم الهدف المعلن لداعش المتمثل في تدمير الديانة الأيزيدية.

تمت وعلقت محامية الضحية أمل كلوني على المحاكمة قائلة: "لقد أظهر الناجون من الإبادة الجماعية الأيزيدية مرارًا وتكرارًا أنهم ملتزمون بالسعي لتحقيق العدالة مهما تطلب الأمر. إنه لشرف كبير أن أمثل الضحية الشجاعة في هذه القضية والعديد من الناجين المصممين على قضاء يومهم في المحكمة. وأهنئ المدعين العامين في ألمانيا على عملهم لضمان ألا يكون عناصر داعش فوق القانون. "

وعلقت سونكا مينر التي ستمثل الناجية خلال المحاكمة قائلة: "هذه المحاكمة هي خطوة مهمة في التعامل مع الجرائم التي ارتكبها عناصر داعش ضد المجتمع الأيزيدي. من وجهة نظرنا، الادعاء صحيح بافتراض أن هذه الجرائم ترتقي إلى مستوى الإبادة الجماعية. سنعمل على ضمان حصول موكلتنا على العدالة بسبب الجرائم التي ارتكبت ضدها وضد مجتمعها."

وأضافت ناتالي فون ويستنغهاوسن : "على الرغم من الرعب الذي عاشته ن. خلال فترة أسرها التي استمرت لمدة عام، فهي ناجية إيزيدية أخرى شجاعة وقوية بما يكفي لمواجهة أحد الجناة المزعومين في قاعة المحكمة، بعيدًا عن المنزل حيث وقعت الجرائم. إنها مصممة على تقديم سرد مفصل لما عانته. ككل الإيزيديين، تسعى لتحقيق العدالة لنفسها وللمجتمع بأكمله."

جمعت ناتيا نافروزوف ، مديرة المناصرة القانونية في منظمة يزدا الإيزيدية العالمية، غير الحكومية والتي تمثلها أيضًا السيدة كلوني، الالاف من افادات الناجين الأيزيديين وسهلت مشاركة ن. مرة أخرى، تظهر ألمانيا قيادتها من خلال تقديم عناصر داعش إلى العدالة. ومع ذلك، لا يمكن أن تظل المحاكمات في ألمانيا السبيل الوحيد لتحقيق العدالة للناجين من داعش. يحتاج العراق والمجتمع الدولي إلى تصميم تدابير شاملة للعدالة الانتقالية لمعالجة الأضرار الناجمة عن الصراع."

وعلقت نادية مراد ، الحائزة على جائزة نوبل للسلام، والتي نجت هي نفسها من الاستعباد والتعذيب على يد داعش: "أثني على ن. لشجاعتها في الإدلاء بشهادتها. من الضروري أن نواصل تقديم طرق آمنة للناجيات من العنف الجنسي لمشاركة افاداتهم وتقديم الجناة إلى العدالة. لن تساعد المحاكمات والإدانات فقط في عملية الشفاء للأفراد الناجين والمجتمع الأيزيدي ككل، بل ستساعد في منع وقوع أعمال العنف المستقبلية ايضاً."

المعلومات الأساسية

منذ أغسطس 2014، تم استهداف المجتمع الأيزيدي في العراق وسوريا من قبل داعش من خلال حملة منظمة من عمليات الإعدام والاستعباد والعنف الجنسي والتجنيد القسري للأطفال ، بالإضافة إلى التهجير القسري لما يقدر ب 400,000 إيزيدي من مناطق سكناهم في العراق. بعد ما يقارب 8 سنوات من هجوم داعش، لا يزال الآلاف النساء والأطفال الأيزيديين الذين اختطفهم واستعبدهم داعش في عداد المفقودين. وقد اعترفت الأمم المتحدة والهيئات الوطنية والدولية ، ومؤخراً المحاكم الألمانية بهذه الجرائم باعتبارها إبادة جماعية."

أدانت المحاكم الألمانية حتى الآن اثنين من عناصر داعش بارتكاب إبادة جماعية لجرائمهما ضد الأيزيديين. الحكم الصادر عن محكمة فرانكفورت الإقليمية العليا في نوفمبر 2021 ضد المواطن العراقي طه أ . تعتبر أول إدانة لأحد عناصر داعش بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية في أي مكان من العالم. تبع ذلك إدانة ثانية بالإبادة الجماعية في مايو/أيار 2022 ضد العائد الألماني من داعش جلدة أ . هذه القضية ضد نادين ك. هي المحاكمة الثالثة التي تتهم بالإبادة الجماعية ومن المتوقع أن تستمر على الأقل حتى نهاية مارس/أذار."

كما أدانت المحاكم الألمانية في السابق 5 أعضاء آخرين من داعش بارتكابهم جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب لتورطهم في جرائم داعش ضد الإيزيديين في 6 قضايا. هذه هي القضايا المرفوعة ضد جينيفر و . , وسارة أو . , ونورتن ج . , وأميمة أ . (التي واجهت محاكمتين منفصلتين) وقامت كل من رومينا س. , السيدة كلوني , السيدة فون ويستنغهاوسن و/او السيدة مينر بتمثيل الضحايا الأيزيديات في كل هذه الحالات.

ألقت القوات الكردية القبض على المدعى عليها نادين ك. في عام 2019 أثناء محاولتها هي وعائلتها الفرار من سوريا إلى تركيا. احتُجزت هي وأطفالها في معسكرات بشمال سوريا حتى إعادتهم إلى ألمانيا في آذار/ مارس 2022. واعتقلت فور وصولها وأُتهمت في أيلول / سبتمبر 2022.

وتشمل اللائحة الكاملة للإتهامات التي وجهت الى نادين ك.:

- العضوية في منظمة ارهابية أجنبية.

- المساعدة والتحريض على الإبادة الجماعية عن طريق:

إلحاق ظروف معيشية بالجماعة محسوبة لإحداث تدمير جسدي,
إلحاق ضرر عقلي خطير بأفراد الجماعة ؛

- جرائم ضد الإنسانية ومن ضمنها:

الإستعباد,
الحرمان من الحرية،
الإضطهاد القائم على أساس الجنس والدين.

- المساعدة والتحريض على ارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية ومن ضمنها:

إلحاق الضرر بقصد تدمير السكان كلياً أو جزئياً، ظروف الحياة المحسوبة لتحقيق تدميرها المادي.
الترحيل القسري.
التعذيب.
الاغتصاب.
ضرر عقلي جسيم.

- المساعدة والتحريض على جرائم حرب ومن ضمنها:

التعذيب
الإغتصاب
الترحيل القسري

- جرائم حرب ضد الممتلكات؛

- الإستغلال والاتجار بالبشر:

- الحرمان من الحرية:

- المساعدة والتحريض على الإغتصاب:

- انتهاكات قانون مراقبة الأسلحة الحربية وقانون الأسلحة.

ملاحظة للمحررين:

بموجب القانون الألماني, يحق لضحايا الجرائم الجسيمة المشاركة في الإجراءات الجنائية بصفتهم "مدعين مشاركين" جنبًا إلى جنب مع الادعاء والدفاع. من أجل سلامتها, لم يتم الكشف عن هوية الضحية. ولذلك يشار إليها باسم "ن" في هذا البيان.

لا يسمح القانون الألماني عادةً أيضًا بالكشف عن الألقاب الكاملة للمدعى عليها. لذلك تم تعريفها ب«نادين ك» في هذا البيان.

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا .

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا .

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يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش ، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

لا يزال الناجون يفتقرون إلى فرص تحقيق العدالة في العراق بعد خمسة اعوام من هزيمة داعش

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 11:56:51 GMT

Jameel Chomer

+964 750 704 3819

iq.country.director@yazda.

org

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٩ كانون الاول ٢٠٢٢

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

يصادف اليوم الذكرى السنوية الخامسة لدحر تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام (داعش) عسكرياً من قبل الحكومة العراقية. كما يصادف اليوم الدولي لإحياءوتكريم ذكرى ضحايا الإبادة الجماعية ومنع هذه الجريمة.

على الرغم من هزيمة داعش في العراق قبل خمس سنوات - بالنسبة للأيزيديين والأقليات الأخرى - لا تزال آثار جرائم داعش محسوسة بشكل كبير حتى اليوم. لذلك يجب أن ندعم نداءاتهم من أجل قول الحقيقة والتعويضات والعدالة والمساءلة وضمانات عدم التكرار ما حدث.

في حين أن قانون الناجيات الإيزيديات، الذي تم إقراره في مارس 2021 ، يوفر بعض الأمل للناجين الذين يسعون إلى إعادة بناء حياتهم، لا يزال الكثيرون ينتظرون لمعرفة مصائرأحبائهم المفقودين. لم يتم تنقيب العدد الاكبر من المقابر الجماعية المستكشفة. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، يتعين على الناجين الذين يسعون إلى تحقيق المساءلة الجنائية السفر إلى الخارج لضمان إدانة المتهمين، حيث لم تكن هناك محاكمات لعناصر داعش في العراق على ارتكابهم جرائم دولية، بما في ذلك الإبادة الجماعية وجرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية. على الرغم من أهمية هذه الإدانات الخارجية، إلا أنها ليست كافية وهناك حاجة إلى سبل لتحقيق العدالة داخل الوطن.

لمعالجة هذه الفجوة ، نشرت يزدا والتحالف من أجل التعويضات العادلة ( C4JR ) ورقة موقف في أغسطس 2022 لدعوة الحكومة العراقية إلى تقنين الجرائم الدولية - الإبادة الجماعية والجرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم الحرب - في ا لنظام القانوني العراقي و إنشاء آلية مساءلة جنائية تتمحور حول الناجين بحيث تجعل المحاكمات في العراق ممكنة.

ستتم مناقشة الورقة بالتفصيل من خلال الندوة عبر الإنترنت التي نظمتها يزدا، مؤسسة جيان، التحالف الدولي المسؤول عن توفير الحماية و التحالف من اجل التعويضات العادلة. سيناقش الناجون وغيرهم من الخبراء العراقيين والدوليين الشكل الذي يمكن أن تبدو عليه العدالة الجنائية لجرائم داعش في العراق ، ويجمعون مجموعة من التوصيات للحكومة العراقية التي شكلت حديثًا ، وكذلك للمجتمع الدولي. مع تشكيل الحكومة العراقية الجديدة ، هناك فرصة متجددة لتركيز أصوات الناجين وضمان حصولهم على العدالة والمساءلة التي يستحقونها والتي طالما طالبوا بها.

علقت عضو في شبكة الناجيات الإيزيدييات ، وهي شبكة من الناجيات الإيزيدييات والمدافعات عن حقوق الإنسان: لا استطيع التوقف عن التفكير في ما حدث لنا. بالنسبة لنا كمجتمع أيزيدي، لا تزال الإبادة مستمرة حتى بعد خمس سنوات من سقوط داعش لأن لا يزال آلاف الأيزيديين من النس اء والاطفال مفقودين وآلاف الرجال مصيرهم مجهول، بعضهم ملقين في المقابر الجماعية. يجب على الحكومة العراقية أن تكرس كافة جهودها من اجل تحقيق العدالة والبحث عن المخطوفين.

يرجى التسجيل لحضور الندوة عبر الإنترنت هنا.

ورقة الموقف متاحة هنا باللغة الإنجليزية و هنا باللغة العربية.

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا .

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا .

###

يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش ، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

Five years after ISIL’s defeat, survivors still have no prospects for justice in Iraq

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 11:45:14 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

December 9, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Jameel Chomer

+964 750 704 3819

iq.country.director@yazda.org

Today marks the 5-year anniversary of the Iraqi Government’s military defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Da’esh /ISIS. It also marks the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime.

Despite ISIL’s defeat in Iraq 5 years ago - for Yazidis and other minorities - the impacts of ISIL’s crimes are still felt acutely today. We must therefore support their calls for truth, reparations, justice and accountability, and guarantees of non-recurrence.

While the Yazidi Survivors Law, passed in March 2021, offers some hope for survivors seeking to re-build their lives, many are still waiting to hear what happened to their missing loved ones. The bulk of known mass graves are still not exhumed. In addition, survivors seeking criminal accountability are having to travel abroad to secure convictions, as there have been no prosecutions of ISIL members for international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Iraq. Although these overseas convictions are important, they are not enough and avenues for justice are needed closer to home.

To address this gap, Yazda and the Coalition for Just Reparations ( C4JR ) published a position paper in August 2022 to call on the Iraqi Government to both codify international crimes – genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes – into the Iraqi legal system and to establish a survivor-centred criminal accountability mechanism which would make trials in Iraq possible. The paper is the culmination of ten months of discussion between C4JR members and is informed by the views of survivors and by past experiences of accountability processes for atrocity crimes in Iraq and in other contexts.

The paper will be discussed in detail at a webinar on 19 December organised by Yazda, Jiyan Foundation, International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICR2P) and C4JR. Survivors and other Iraqi and international experts will discuss what criminal justice for ISIL crimes could look like in Iraq and compile a set of recommendations for the newly established Iraqi Government, as well as the international community. With the new Iraqi Government in place, there is renewed opportunity to centre the voices of survivors and ensure they get the justice and accountability they deserve and have long been calling for.

A member of the Yazidi Survivors Network, a network of Yazidi survivors and human rights advocates, commented: What happened to us is always in my thoughts. For us, as the Yazidi community, the genocide continues even five years after ISIS’s defeat as thousands of Yazidi children and women are still missing while the fate of thousands of men is unknown, and others are dumped in mass graves. The Iraqi Government should devote all its efforts for justice and the search for the missing.

Please register to attend the webinar here .

For the English version of the position paper, click here .

For the Arabic version of the position paper, click here .

Download press release here .

For the Arabic version, click he re .

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Visit of German prosecutor in Iraq

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 09:52:37 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

November 23, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Natia Navrouzov

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Yazda was grateful to receive a visit from the German Federal Prosecutor Claudia Gorf and UNITAD on November 10, 2022.

Discussions covered the recent success in bringing ISIL members to justice in Germany, the urgent need for further action on accountability for crimes committed against the Yazidi community, and the important role Yazda played in the investigation of the Yazidi genocide. Yazda documentation team was able to identify survivors who joined the proceedings in Germany and testified in court, leading so far to the conviction of 6 ISIS members, including 2 genocide convictions (see links below).

Press releases in English and Arabic to the cases in Germany:

Jennifer W. case
Sarah. O. case
Nurt en J. case
Omaima A. case (she faced two separate trials)
Taha A.J. case
Jalda A. case

For the position paper in the English language, click here .

For the position paper in the Arabic language, click here .

Download press release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

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زيارة المدعي العام الفيدرالي الألماني كلوديا كورف و يونيتاد ليزدا

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 09:52:27 GMT

ناتيا نوروزوف

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov

yazda.org @

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٢٣ تشرين الاول ٢٠٢٢

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

كان من دواعي سرور وامتنان يزدا تلقي زيارة من المدعي العام الفيدرالي الألماني كلوديا كورف و يونيتاد في 10 نوفمبر 2022.

وتناولت المناقشات النجاح الذي تحقق مؤخرا في تقديم عناصر داعش إلى العدالة في ألمانيا، والحاجة الملحة إلى اتخاذ مزيد من الإجراءات بشأن المساءلة عن الجرائم المرتكبة ضد المجتمع الأيزيدي، والدور الهام الذي اضطلع به يزدا في التحقيق في الإبادة الجماعية ضد الأيزيديين. تمكن فريق التوثيق في يزدا من إيجاد الناجين الذين انضموا إلى الإجراءات في ألمانيا وأدلوا بشهاداتهم في المحكمة، مما أدى حتى الآن إلى إدانة 6 من عناصر داعش، بما في ذلك إدانة حالتين بجرائم الإبادة الجماعية (انظر الروابط أدناه).

في العراق، تمت محاكمة عناصر داعش بموجب قوانين مكافحة الإرهاب فقط ، دون إشراك الناجين في العملية أو معالجة النطاق الكامل للجرائم. نشرت يزدا مؤخرا ورقة موقف بالتنسيق مع التحالف للتعويضات العادلة ( C4JR ) لإعطاء زخم جديد لالتزام العراق بمواصلة المساءلة الجنائية عن الجرائم الدولية التي ارتكبها داعش في العراق من خلال تحديد أفضل الاساليب الدولية بشأن إشراك الناجين واحترام حقوقهم واحتياجاتهم أثناء الإجراءات الجنائية. الآن بعد تشكيل الحكومة الجديدة، المناصرة بشأن هذا الموضوع أمر بالغ الأهمية.

وتبقى يزدا ملتزمة التزاما تاما بمكافحة الإفلات من العقاب وتتطلع إلى تعزيز التنسيق مع مكاتب الادعاء العام ذات الصلة ووحدات جرائم الحرب.

بيانات صحفية باللغتين الانكليزية والعربية للقضايا في ألمانيا:

لورقة الموقف في اللغة الانكليزية، اضغط هنا .
لورقة الوقف في اللغة العربية، اضغط هنا.

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا .

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا .

###

يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش ، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

بدء عملية استخراج الرفات في كرزرك

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:22:23 GMT

Jameel Chomer

+964 750 704 3819

iq.country.director@yazda.

org

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

١٧ تشرين الثاني ٢٠٢٢

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

في 15 تشرين الثاني، 2022، بدأت مؤسسة الشهداء، الهيئة الحكومية الاتحادية المسؤولة عن عملية استخراج الرفات وتحديد الهوية في العراق، عملية استخراج الرفات من المقابر الجماعية في كرزرك (العدنانية). يقع كرزرك في الجانب الجنوبي من جبل سنجار، محافظة نينوى، العراق.

يعتبر كرزرك احد اولى المواقع التي استولى عليها داعش خلال الإبادة الجماعية الأيزيديية. دافع رجال المجتمع عن البلدة حتى الساعات الأولى من صباح يوم 3 أغسطس 2014، وبعد ذلك سقطت تحت سيطرة داعش. تم أختطاف العديد من الناس من البلدة وقُتِلَ عدد كبير من الرجال خلال الهجوم، بما في ذلك على السواتر بالقرب من المحور الأمامي للبلدة. من خلال التحقيقات التي أجرتها يزدا، تشير التقديرات إلى وجود أكثر من 98 شخصًا في ثلاث مقابر جماعية حول المنطقة.

لا يزال عدد الأشخاص الذين اختطفهم تنظيم داعش مجهولا. قبل الإبادة الجماعية، حوالي 1500 عائلة أيزيدية كانت تعيش في كرزرك وفقاً للتقديرات. أستناداً للمعلومات التي جمعتها يزدا، فأن أربع عوائل فقط عادت لتعيش في كرزرك.

لا تزال يزدا متفانية لدعم المجتمع الأيزيدي وأفراد العوائل خلال هذا الوقت العصيب. ستقوم يزدا بزيارة الموقع من أجل دعم الأسر المتضررة والتواصل معها، ونقل المعلومات التي تم جمعها من مؤسسة الشهداء حيثما أمكن ذلك.

ترحب يزدا بعملية تنقيب المقابر الجماعية في كرزرك وتدعو السلطات إلى تسريع عملية استخراج الجثث من جميع المقابر الجماعية في سنجار، بما يتماشى مع المعايير الدولية. وستكون هذه خطوة حاسمة نحو منح أفراد الأسرة حقوق الإنسان والكرامة.

قال المدير القطري ليزدا التعليق التالي:

"نقدم تعازينا الحارة لأسر أولئك الذين فقدوا حياتهم دفاعا عن شرف وكرامة المجتمع الأيزيدي. سيبقون خالدون في قلوبنا وضمائرنا. إن عملية التنقيب و تحديد هوية الرفات هي مسؤولية الحكومة الوطنية وواجب مشترك للمجتمع الدولي بأكمله."

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا .

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا .

###

يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش ، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

Commencement of the exhumation process in Ger Zarik

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:20:48 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

November 17, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Jameel Chomer

+964 750 704 3819

iq.country.director@yazda.org

On 15 November 2022, the Martyrs Foundation, the Federal Government body responsible for the exhumation and identification process in Iraq, began the exhumation of the mass graves in Ger Zarik (Al-Adnaniya). Ger Zarik is located on the southern side of Mount Sinjar in Ninewa Governorate, Iraq.

Ger Zarik is considered one of the first sites that ISIL captured during the Yazidi genocide. The men of the community defended the town until the early hours of the morning on 3 August 2014, after which time it fell under the control of ISIL. Many people from the town were captured and a high number of men were killed during the attack, including on the berms near the front axis of the town. Through investigations conducted by Yazda, it is estimated that over 98 people are located in three mass graves around the area.

The number of people who were abducted by ISIL remains unknown. Before the genocide, an estimated 1,500 Yazidi families were living in Ger Zarik. According to information gathered by Yazda, only four families have returned to live in Ger Zarik.

Yazda remains dedicated to supporting the Yazidi community and family members during this difficult time. Yazda is visiting the site in order to support and communicate with affected families, and pass on information gathered from the Martyrs Foundation where possible.

Yazda welcomes the exhumation process of the mass graves in Ger Zarik, and calls on the authorities to expediate the exhumation process of all mass graves in Sinjar, in line with international standards. This would be a crucial step towards affording family members human rights and dignity.

The Country Director of Yazda provided the following comment:

“We provide our deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in defense of the honor and dignity of the Yezidi community. They will forever remain in our hearts and consciousness. Excavating and identifying their remains is the responsibility of the national government and a shared duty of the entire international community.”

Download press release he re .

For the Arabic version, click here .

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Joint statement by Yazda & YSN in response to Luxembourg recognition of the Yazidi Genocide

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 08:47:42 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

November 10, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Ahmed Burjus

+44 7495 062635

ahmed.khudida@yazda.or g

In response to the Luxembourg Parliament's vote on recognising Da’esh 's genocide against the Yazidi people, the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN) and Yazda issue the following statement:

The YSN and Yazda welcome the decision by the Luxembourg Parliament to consider the crimes committed against the Yazidi community by Da’esh as genocide. The formal recognition of the Yazidi genocide was passed by unanimous vote today on 9 November 2022, and represents an important step forward in justice and accountability efforts for the Yazdi community.

We extend our immense gratitude to the Luxembourg Government and Parliament for their continued support of the Yazidi community and their efforts to address the human rights violations committed by Da’esh . We would also like to thank the officials from the Luxembourg Government and Parliament for meeting with the YSN, Nobody's Listening, and the Yazda Team throughout November 2021. We witnessed Luxembourg officials' readiness and willingness to assist survivors of ISIS atrocities and the wider Yazidi community. The Luxembourg Government has also long been an active supporter of ISIS survivors in Iraq, currently funding Yazda’s Mental Health and Psycho Social Support (MHPSS), Case Management and Advocacy Service for Survivors of ISIS Atrocities Project. Through this project, nearly 400 survivors currently residing in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps throughout Duhok have received financial, legal and mental health assistance.

Da’esh committed genocidal acts against the Yazidis, including mass and individual killings, torture, beatings, rape, sexual slavery, abuse and other inhumane and degrading treatment with the intent of decimating the Yazidi population.

The perpetrators of the Yazidi genocide have not yet been brought to international justice, however, this decision by the Luxembourg Parliament represents a positive step toward the pursuit of restorative justice for the Yazidi community. The YSN and Yazda remain committed to pursuing justice and accountability for crimes committed by Da’esh and encourage the international community to follow the example set by Luxembourg and other nations.

Over the past 7 years, Yazda’s advocacy work with the YSN, Amal Clooney, Nobody's Listening and our other partners have resulted in the adoption of similar motions by the British House of Commons, US Congress, the French National Assembly, the European Parliament, the Canadian House of Commons, the Australian Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the Armenian Parliament, the Portuguese Parliament, the Dutch Parliament, the Belgium Parliament, the EU Parliament and the European Council.

Download press release here .

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يزدا تصدر تقرير"المصير المجهول للأيزيديين المفقودين: ٨ سنوات عدت وما زالوا ينتظرون"

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 11:29:06 GMT

تامازي نوروسوف

+964 751 724 9836

@tamaze.navrouzov
yazda.org

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

١٢ تشرين الاول ٢٠٢٢

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

في آب 2014، شن ما يسمى بتنظيم الدولة الإسلامية (داعش) حملة إبادة جماعية ضد الأقلية الأيزيدية في العراق. تم أُختطاف 6,417 من الأيزيديين في غضون ساعات ، معظمهم من النساء والفتيات والفتيان، وتم أستخدامهم للأستعباد الجنسي والعمل القسري والتجنيد الاجباري. و حوالي 2700 منهم ما زالوا في عداد المفقودين. أصبح البحث عن الأيزيديين المفقودين أزمة وجودية للمجتمع الأيزيدي ولم يبذل سوى القليل من الجهد على مدار السنوات الماضية لحل هذه المشكلة. على حد تعبير شبكة الناجيات الأيزيدييات((YSN، مجموعة من الناشطات الأيزيديات في مجال حقوق الإنسان من اللاتي تم تحريرهن من أسر داعش:

"نفقد الأمل اكثر مع مرور كل عام. نريد معرفة مصير احبائنا: هل مازالوا على قيد الحياة أو في الأسر أو ملقين في المقابر غير المنتقبة؟ الشك يؤلمنا ويسلبنا كرامتنا. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، فإن عملية استخراج الجثث بطيئة للغاية وتفتقر إلى الشفافية ".

لزيادة الوعي عن تعقيد قضية المفقودين الأيزيديين، أصدرت يزدا اليوم تقريرًا بعنوان"المصير المجهول للأيزيديين المفقودين: 8 سنوات عدت و مازالوا ينتظرون". وقد تم اعداد التقرير خلال العام الماضي، وهو يجمع أصوات الناجين وأسر المفقودين والجهات المعنية من الوكالات غير الحكومية والحكومية على الصعيدين المحلي و الدولي. والنتيجة الرئيسية للتقرير هي أن مسألة المفقودين الإيزيديين لم تحظ ابداً باستجابة شاملة واستراتيجية ، وأنه باستثناء عدد قليل من المبادرات المستقلة من المؤسسات الحكومية وغير الحكومية، تُركت المسألة لأسر المفقودين بشكل أساسي. و يلخص التقرير أيضا بعض التوصيات التي يمكن اتباعها وتنفيذها في الوقت المناسب.

أضافة الى أصدار التقرير، نظمت يزدا ورشة عمل في 28 سبتمبر 2022 لمناقشة هذه القضية ضمن سلسلة حلقات نقاشية مع الجهات المعنية المحلية و الدولية، وأيجاد الطرق الممكنة للمضي قدمًا، بما في ذلك الجهود المشتركة.

تم إعداد التقرير و ورشىة العمل بدعم من المنظمة الدولية للهجرة ووكالة التنمية الدولية التابعة للولايات المتحدة. (USAID)

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا.

###

يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش ، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

Yazda Releases the Report “The Unknown Fate of Missing Yazidis: 8 Years On And Still Waiting”

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 11:29:04 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

October 12, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Tamaze Navrouzov

+964 751 724 9836

tamaze.navrouzov@

yazda.org

In August 2014, the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) carried out a genocidal campaign against the Yazidi minority of Iraq. Within hours, 6,417 Yazidis were kidnapped, mainly women, girls and boys and thrown into sexual slavery, forced labor and forced militarization. Among them, around 2,700 Yazidis are still missing. The search for missing Yazidis has become an existential crisis for the Yazidi community and little to no effort has been deployed over the past years to resolve this issue. In the words of the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN), a group of female Yazidi human rights activists who were liberated from ISIS captivity:

“Each year that passes we lose more hope. We need to know the fate of our loved ones: are they alive, are they still in captivity, or are they laying in unexhumed graves? The uncertainty is excruciating and robbing us of our dignity. Additionally, the exhumation process is too slow and lacks transparency.”

To raise awareness on the complexity of the issue of missing Yazidis, Yazda released a report today entitled “The Unknown Fate of Missing Yazidis: 8 Years On And Still Waiting”. The report was prepared over the past year and brings together voices of survivors, families of missings, and stakeholders from non-governmental and governmental agencies on the national and transnational level. The report’s main finding is that the issue of missing Yazidis has never received a holistic and strategic response, and that except a few isolated initiatives from governmental and non-governmental institutions, the issue was mainly left to the families of the missing. The report also summarizes some recommendations that can be followed and timely implemented.

Alongside launching the report, Yazda organized a workshop on 28 September 2022 to discuss this issue in a series of roundtables with local and international stakeholders, and to explore the possible ways forward, including joint efforts.

The report and the workshop were made possible with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Download press release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

###

لين زوفيكيان ونادين مايينزا يتحدّثن عن أهمية عودة الإيزيديين الآمنة إلى سنجار في مقابلة عبر قناة رووداو

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 13:46:10 GMT

مصدر الصورة ⓒ ٢٠٢٢ مركز ويلسون

تضامناً مع القضية الإيزيدية، تمّ إجراء مقابلة مع المؤسسة المشاركة والمديرة الإدارية ل ZP لين زوفيكيان و نادين مايينزا، رئيسة لجنة الولايات المتحدة للحرية الدينية الدولية، عبر قناة رووداو. تطرّقوا إلى ضرورة إيجاد حلول متمحورة حول الناجين من أجل ضمان عودة آمنة ومستدامة إلى سنجار.

لقراءة المقابلة في اللغة الكردية، اضغط هنا: https://www.rudaw.net/sorani/interview/051020222
لقراءة المقابلة في اللغة العربية، اضغط هنا: https://www.rudaw.net/arabic/interview/06102022
لقراءة المقابلة في اللغة الكرمنجية، اضغ ط هنا: https://www.rudaw.net/kurmanci/interview/06102022

لمشاهدة الفيديو، اضغط هنا: / https://fb.watch/fZZ9oV8qoP

In an interview with Rudaw TV, Lynn Zovighian & Nadine Maenza speak about the importance of the safe return of Yazidis to Sinjar

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 13:46:00 GMT

In an effort to advance awareness on the Yazidi Cause, ZP Co-founder and Managing Director, Lynn Zovighian & Nadine Maenza, President of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat, were interviewed by Rudaw TV . They stressed the need to amplify the voices of Yazidi survivors who are unable to return to their homeland due to the absence of safety and security in Sinjar.

For article & interview in the Kurdish language, click here: https://www.rudaw.net/sorani/interview/051020222
For article in the Arabic language: https://www.rudaw.net/arabic/interview/06102022
For article in the Kurmanji language: https://www.rudaw.net/kurmanci/interview/06102022
For the interview: https://fb.watch/fZZ9oV8qoP/

Time is of essence to ensure trusted security in Sinjar

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 17:16:18 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

September 29, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Rana Farah

+961 (3) 004267

press@zovighianpartnership.com

WASHIGNTON, September 29, 2022 – The chronic absence of security is debilitating the Yazidi community and other minority groups in Sinjar. With a long-term power vacuum that has not been resolved by the Sinjar Agreement, the security breakdown is enforcing armed groups and putting humanitarian and socio-economic development prospects at serious risk.

The security situation was debated in an expert panel hosted by the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center. A new policy paper titled, “Collapsed security threatens the future of Yazidis and minorities in Sinjar,” was launched sharing detailed examples of community lived experiences and specific urgent recommendations for national and international stakeholders. The paper is co-authored by Yazda, a community-led institution, and The Zovighian Partnership, a long-time social investor in the Yazidi Cause, and highlights the direct concerns and recommendations of community members.

Key speakers included: Ambassador Mark Green, President, Director, and CEO of The Wilson Center; Jennifer Gavito, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Press and Public Diplomacy and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran and Iraq at the United States Department of State; Haider Elias, Co-founder and President of Yazda; Nadine Maenza, President of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat; and Lynn Zovighian, Co-founder and Managing Director of The Zovighian Partnership.

Absence of safety and security threatens the future of Yazidis

“Safety and stability remain dangerously compromised due to the chronic and growing presence of armed groups and militias. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jennifer Gavito emphasized that the presence of multiple armed groups is creating an insecure, unstable environment that inhibits any means for rebuilding and recovery. She emphasized, “The USA continues to prioritize the recovery of all communities that were subjected to genocide and other atrocities by ISIS.” She urged Iraqi leaders to engage in a sincere and inclusive dialogue that leads to a political compromise and avoids further violence.

Wilson Center President Ambassador Mark Green highlighted: “The absence of security is hampering humanitarian decisions, justice mechanisms, infrastructure and strategic development, as well as shaping the geopolitical positioning of Sinjar.”

Lynn Zovighian, Co-founder and Managing Director of The Zovighian Partnership, explained that security, as defined by Yazidi community members, is “a trusted inclusive public asset that all Sinjaris can count on, that is implemented with full accountability by national stakeholders with a strong hand from the international community to make sure that no one falls through the cracks.”

Haider Elias, Co-founder and President of Yazda stressed the need to amplify the voices of Yazidi survivors who are unable to return to their homeland with fears that they may become vulnerable again in case of another attack on Sinjar. “The conflict between multiple militia groups in Sinjar is killing a lot of innocent Yazidis. There are many other reasons that make Yazidis cautious when thinking about living in Sinjar again,” stated Elias.

The deprived state of security and consequential fragile rule of law critically endangers the lives of families. Nadine Maenza, President of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat, further emphasized, “It is so important that we include Yazidis and Sinjari residents in their own security.” She added, “The international community can help a different way forward and push away from this ‘rocket diplomacy’ so we can move forward with a secure place for the Yazidi community to go back to their homeland.”

Recommendations to strengthening security in Sinjar

Given the significant delays in addressing and resolving security in Sinjar, the paper provides time-critical actionable policy recommendations that have been co-defined with Yazidi community members.

Panelists expressed disappointment in the chronic policy of inaction amongst key stakeholders and highlighted these recommendations and called for the inclusion of all communities to assure self-determination and community-led decisions, mandates, and actions. Six recommendations are prioritized in the paper:

Update the Sinjar Agreement with meaningful community inclusion;
Activate long-term budgets for local law enforcement and capacity building that includes community recruits;
Close all non-state checkpoints and ensure the safe and trusted movement of aid, goods, services, and people;
Establish and fund a multi-stakeholder taskforce to define and oversee a security plan with community co-decision-making seats;
Establish and fund a community-led independent oversight body to monitor progress and ensure accountability; and
Introduce legislation that ensures safety as a human right for all citizens.

“The biggest mistake that was done with the Sinjar Agreement is the exclusion of the Yazidi community and the Sinjar community in general in drafting this agreement. Having said that, there is a way forward with this agreement only if it includes the Yazidi community and Sinjar community," stated Maenza.

“What is so important is to appreciate that everything is time-critical. The challenge that we are facing today is that the breakdown is speeding up,” stated Zovighian. “There is nothing else that we can ask for if we don't get security right and this is why this is not only a pertinent topic, it is not only overdue, it is indispensable, it is a prerequisite for all,” she concluded.

In closing remarks, Elias emphasized: “The genocide is ongoing; it is a human rights issue.” He added: “They [armed and political actors] have all the time onwards. That is why the longer it takes the better it is for them. But it is a disaster for Yazidis suffering inside refugee camps.”

Download press release here .

###

The Zovighian Partnership is a family-owned social investment platform, established by father and daughter in 2013. Deeply invested in R&D, we are committed to delivering ethical, inclusive, and innovative design, research, and prototypes.

The Zovighian Partnership Public Office is committed to delivering significant resources to bringing grounded methodology, sound governance, and rigorous strategic thinking to communities and cities in crisis. We hold ourselves accountable to giving voice to the diversity of views that are central to long-term and sustainable peace and socio-economic enablement.

To find out more, www.zovighianpartnership.com

The Wilson Center, chartered by Congress in 1968 as the official memorial to President Woodrow Wilson, is the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum for tackling global issues through independent research and open dialogue to inform actionable ideas for the policy community. The Wilson Center’s Middle East Program serves as a crucial resource for the policymaking community and beyond, providing analyses and research that helps inform U.S. foreign policymaking, stimulates public debate, and expands knowledge about issues in the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

www.wilsoncenter.org

الوقت هو أمر جوهري لضمان أمن موثوق به في سنجار

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:34:33 GMT

رنا فرح

+961 (3) 004267

press@zovighianpartnership.com

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٢٩ سبتمبر ٢٠٢٢

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

سنجار، ٢٩ سبتمبر، ٢٠٢٢ — يهدّد غياب الأمن المزمن المجتمع الإيزيدي والأقليات الأخرى في سنجار. مع الفراغ السياسي الطويل الأمد الذي لم يتمّ إيجاد حلّ له من خلال اتفاقية سنجار، بات انهيار الأمن يقوّي الجماعات المسلحة ويعرّض آفاق التنمية الإنسانية والاجتماعية والاقتصادية لخطر جسيم.

تمّ التطرّق إلى الوضع الأمني في سنجار في حلقة نقاش استضافها برنامج الشرق الأوسط في مركز ويلسون. وتمّ إطلاق ورقة بحثية بعنوان: "يهدّد الأمن المنهار مستقبل الإيزيديين في سنجار،" حيث تمّ عرض أمثلة مفصّلة للتجارب التي عاشها المجتمع وتوصيات عاجلة محددة للمعنيين من أصحاب المصلحة الوطنيين والدوليين. هذه الورقة السياسية هي من كتابة يزدا، مؤسسة تنبثق من المجتمع الذي تحميه وتدافع عنه، وThe Zovighian Partnership التي تقوم بالاستثمار الاجتماعي للقضية الأيزيدية.

كان المتحدثون الرئيسيون في الجلسة: السفير مارك جرين، الرئيس والمدير التنفيذي لمركز ويلسون، وجينيفر جافيتو، نائب مساعد وزير الخارجية الأميركي لشؤون إيران والعراق، حيدر الياس، المؤسس المشارك ورئيس يزدا. نادين ماينزا، رئيسة لجنة الولايات المتحدة للحرية الدينية الدولية (USCIRF) ، ولين زوفيكيان، المؤسسة المشاركة والمديرة الإدارية ل The Zovighian Partnership.

غياب السلامة والأمن يهدّد مستقبل الإيزيديين
خلاليعانـي الأمـن والاستقرار مـن وجود الميليشـيات والجماعـات المسـّلحة المتزايد والمزمن. أشارت نائب مساعد وزير الخارجية الأميركي لشؤون إيران والعراق جينيفر غافيتو أن وجود الميليشيات والجماعات المسلّحة يخلق بيئة غير آمنة وغير مستقرّة التي تحول دون إعادة الاعمار والتعافي.

وأكدت، "تواصل الولايات المتحدة إعطاء الأولوية في سبيل تعافي جميع المجتمعات التي تعرضت للإبادة الجماعية وغيرها من الفظائع من قبل داعش". وحثت القادة العراقيين على الانخراط في حوار شامل يؤدي إلى تسوية سياسية ويتجنب المزيد من العنف.

وأكد السفير مارك جرين، رئيس مركز ويلسون، أن "غياب الأمن يعيق القرارات الإنسانية وآليات تحقيق العدالة، والبنية التحتية والتطوير الاستراتيجي، فضلاً عن تحديد دور سنجار على صعيـد الجيوسياسـّية أو الجغرافيا السياسـّية."

وشرحت لين زوفيكيان، المؤسسة المشاركة والمديرة الإدارية ل The Zovighian Partnership أن الأمن، كما يصفه أعضاء المجتمع الإيزيدي، هو "أحد الأصول العامة الشاملة والموثوقة التي يمكن لجميع السنجاريين الاعتماد عليها، ويتم تنفيذه من خلال مساءلة كاملة من قبل أصحاب المصلحة الوطنيين ومن المجتمع الدولي من أجل ضمان شمل الجميع."

أكد حيدر الياس، المؤسس المشارك ورئيس يزدا، على ضرورة إعلاء أصوات الناجين الإيزيديين غير القادرين على العودة إلى وطنهم مع مخاوف من أنهم قد يصبحون عرضة للخطر مرة أخرى في حال وقوع هجوم آخر على سنجار. وأضاف: "الصراع بين الميليشيات المتعددة في سنجار يقتل الكثير من الإيزيديين الأبرياء. هناك العديد من الأسباب الأخرى التي تجعل الإيزيديين حذرين في التفكير في العيش في سنجار مرة أخرى."

تُحـَرم سـنجار اليـوم مـن أبسـط مكّونات الأمن وسـلطة القانون، ما يشـّكل خطًرا كبيـراً على حياة العائـلات. أشارت نادين ماينزا، رئيسة لجنة الولايات المتحدة للحرية الدينية الدولية أنه "من الضروري إنخراط السنجاريين والإيزيديين في بسط أمنهم الذاتي." وأضافت "يمكن للمجتمع الدولي المساعدة بطريقة مختلفة للتقدّم والابتعاد عن "دبلوماسية الصواريخ" هذه حتى نتمكن من المضي قدمًا في مكان آمن للمجتمع الإيزيدي لكي يتمكّن من العودة إلى موطنه."

توصيات لتعزيز الأمن في سنجار

نظراً إلى التأخير الكبير في إيجاد حلول لمعالجة الأمن في سنجار، تقدم الورقة السياسية توصيات قابلة للتنفيذ ومحددة زمنياً والتي تم تحديدها بالاشتراك مع أعضاء المجتمع الإيزيدي. وأعرب المشاركون في حلقة النقاش عن خيبتهم من سياسة التقاعس المزمنة بين أصحاب المصلحة الرئيسيين وسلطوا الضوء على التوصيات المقترحة في الورقة السياسية ودعوا إلى إشراك جميع المجتمعات لترسـيخ مقاربـة محورهـا الناجيـن وحقهـم فـي تقريـر مصيرهم في قلب جميـع القـرارات والتفويضات والإجراءات. وتم إعطاء الأولوية لستة توصيات مقترحة في الورقة:

مراجعـة مراجعـة مبـادئ إتفاقيّـة سـنجار مع إشراك موثوق للمعنيين من الجماعات المحلية؛
تخصيـص ميزانيـات طويلـة الأجـل وتفعيل البرامـج لتنمية قـدرات الهيئـات المحليـة لتنفيـذ القانون بالإضافة إلى وضع آليات لتوظيف الجماعات المحليّة؛
إغلاق جميع نقاط التفتيش غير الحكومية لضمان حركة آمنة وموثوق بها للبضائع وللمساعدات وللعاملين في المجال الإنساني؛
إنشاء وتمويل فريق عمل لسنجار يجمع المعنيين، منهم ممثلين عن كلّ جماعة محليّة معنيّة بغية ضمان مشاركة جميع المعنيين في المراقبة الأمنية وفي القرارات؛
إنشـاء وتمويـل هيئـة مرقابة مسـتقّلة على مسـتوى القاعدة الشـعبّية للمجتمعـات المحليـة لتتبـع ودراسـة وتوثيـق ومعالجة النتائج المباشرة وغير المباشرة لانهيار كل من الأمن وسـيادة القانـون؛
. إدخال تشـريعات تضمن سـلامة المواطنين فـي سـنجار وحمايتهـم كحق دسـتوري.

“الخطأ الأكبر الذي ارتكب عند توقيع اتفاقية سنجار هو استبعاد المجتمع الإيزيدي والسنجاريين بشكل عام من صياغة هذه الاتفاقية. وعليه، هناك طريق للمضي قدمًا في هذه الاتفاقية فقط إذا كانت تشمل المجتمع الإيزيدي ومجتمع سنجار"، أوضحت ماينزا.

من المهم للغاية الاعتراف أن الوقت يداهمنا. التحدي الذي نواجهه اليوم هو أن الانهيار يتسارع،" أشارت زوفيكيان. واختتمت قائلة: "ما من أمر آخر يمكننا أن نطلبه ما لم يتمّ بسط الأمن ولذلك إن ضمان الأمن ليس مجرد موضوع حسّاس، وليس فقط متأخرًا، إنما هو أمر جوهري لا غنى عنه، وهو شرط أساسي للجميع."

وشدد إلياس في كلمته الختامية على أن "الإبادة الجماعية مستمرة. إنها قضية إنسانية. “وأضاف: “إن [الجماعات المسلّحة والسياسيين] لديهم كل الوقت أمامهم. لذلك كلما طال الوقت كلّما كان ذلك أفضل بالنسبة لهم. لكنها كارثة بالنسبة للايزيديين الذين يعانون داخل مخيمات اللاجئين".

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا.

###

يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش ، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

تأسّست The Zovighian Partnership عام ٢٠١٣ م الموافق ١٤٣٤هـ بمبادرة والدٍ وكريمته، وهي منصّة عائليّة للاستثمار الاجتماعيّ. يتعمّق فريق العمل في البحث، فيطوّر مع المعنيّين خطط تنفيذ وبرامج مبتكرة تراعي مبادئ العمل المسؤول.

يلتزم المكتب العام لـ The Zovighian Partnership بتقديم موارد لإرساء منهجية قائمة على أسس وحوكمة سليمة وتفكير استراتيجي صارم للمجتمعات والمدن التي تمر بأزمة. نحن نعتبر أنفسنا مسؤولين عن إعطاء صوت لتنوع الآراء التي تعتبر أساسية للسلام الطويل الأجل والمستدام، والتمكين الاجتماعي والاقتصادي.

للمزيد من المعلومات: www.zovighianpartnership.com

Wilson Center، الذي تمّ تشريعه من قبل الكونغرس الأميركي عام ١٩٦٨، تكريمًا للرئيس وودرو ويلسون، يشكل منتدى غير حزبي في مجال السياسة، ومنصة بحثية رئيسية في الولايات المتحدة الأميركية، تساهم في معالجة القضايا العالمية من خلال البحث المستقل والحوار المفتوح من أجل توجيه الأفكار القابلة للتنفيذ لصانعي السياسات.

برنامج الشرق الأوسط بمركز ويلسون يشكّل موردًا أساسيًا لصانعي السياسات وللمجتمع ككل، حيث يقدّم التحليلات والأبحاث التي تساعد في إرشاد صنع السياسة الخارجية للولايات المتحدة، وتحفيز النقاش العام، وتوسيع المعرفة حول القضايا في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا.

www.wilsoncenter.or g

ورقة سياسية جديدة تحذر: الأمن المنهار يهدّد مستقبل الإيزيديين في سنجار

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 10:56:54 GMT

رنا فرح

+961 (3) 004267

press@zovighianpartnership.com

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٢٢ سبتمبر ٢٠٢٢

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الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

سنجار، ١٢ سبتمبر، ٢٠٢٢ — يطالب الإيزيديون بتطبيق سياسات من أجل التمثيل العادل والشامل للمجتمع في الإدارة العامة لسنجار. تتطرّق ورقة سياسية جديدة بعنوان، "يهدّد من كل من جمود الإرادة السياسية وإضعاف الإرادة العامة مستقبل الإيزيديين والأقليات في سنجار،" إلى التحديات أمام إعادة الاستقرار إلى سنجار.

هذه الورقة السياسية، من كتابة منظّمة يزدا و The Zovighian Partnership، تمّ إصدارها في ١٢ سبتمبر ٢٠٢٢، لإلقاء الضوء على ضرورة تمكين سنجار آمنة للأقليات. طالب الباحثون والكّتاب باعتماد حكم محلّي ذاتي لسنجار متمحور حول الجماعة وبإنهاء التقاعس السياسي من قبل حكومة العراق وحكومة إقليم كردستان.

عرض المستند الأوّل من ملخصين للسياسات، الذي تمّ إصداره الشهر الفائت، التحدّيات أمام العودة الآمنة إلى سنجار.

الإيزيديون يطالبون بوضع حدّ للاضطهاد السياسي للأقليات
خلال"اليوم، ما زالت قدرة سنجار على الحكم المحلّي مقيّدة. الأقليات في سنجار ما زالت ضحايا الإقصاء الممنهج من الحياة السياسية،" يشرح أحمد برجس خديدة، مدير في منظمة يزدا. ويضيف “طالما أنّ هناك صراع سياسي وأمني في سنجار — بين حكومة العراق وحكومة كردستان، الحكومة المحلية في نينوى والعديد من الميليشيات المحلية والإقليمية — والشعب المحلّي ليس ممثّلاً بشكل عادل في الإدارة العامة المحلية وفي إنفاذ القانون، ستسمّر عملية الاضطهاد في التأثير على كافة جوانب الحياة في سنجار."

انهارت قدرة الإدارة العامة في سنجار بعد غزو داعش واحتلاله. واليوم، سنجار تعاني من فراغ سياسي من دون تفويض سياسـي واضح أو تمويل أو اسـتراتيجّية لإعـادة إحيـاء المؤسسـة الإداريـة. إدارة سنجار من قبل حكومتين، المتمثّلة بتنافس القوى في المنطقة، تحول دون تعافي الإدارة العامّة الفعّال في سنجار. الذ

اليوم، يجب أن تترافق القرارات مع تشاور مباشر مع جميع الأقليات. لين زوفيكيان، المؤسسة المشاركة والمديرة الإدارية ل The Zovighian Partnership تشرح، "بدون الإشراك السياسي الشامل للأقليات في صنع القرار، لن تتحقق التنمية والتعافي الاجتماعي والاقتصادي المستدام في سنجار."

أولويّات السياسة وتوصياتها الرئيسة: تمكين إدارة عامة ذات المشاركة العالية

يقتـرح هـذا المسـتند ثمانية حلول متمحورة حول الناجين وبقيادتهم، من أجل تمكين تعافي فعّال في الإدارة العامة وإصلاحات في مجال إنفاذ القانون.

مراجعـة مبـادئ "إتفاقيّـة سـنجار" بغَيـة تعزيـز أساسـها الإسـتراتيجي لنظـام حكـم محّلـي فـي سـنجار وفـي الأراضـي المتنـازَع عليهـا؛
نشـاء وتمويـل لجنـة لجميع المعنيين في سنجار وسـكرتارية تخصـص فيهـا مقاعـد لممّثليـن تعّينهـم مباشـرة كّل جماعـة محّلّيـة بالإضافة إلى مقاعـد لحكومـة العـراقولحك إقليـم كردسـتان ولجميـع المعنّييـن فـي سـنجار من أجل دراسة واقتراح نمـوذج الحكـم الذاتـي المحلـي الأمثـل لسـنجار؛
تحديـد منهجيـة معياريـة دولّيـة ، فتدرسـها الّلجنـة، وتختـار نمـوذج الحكـم الذاتـي المحلـّي الأمثـل لسنجار؛
احتضـان نمـوذج الحكـم الذاتـي المحلـي الأمثـل المتَفـق عليـه، وفتـح مناصـب إسـتراتيجّية لممّثليـن مـن جميـع الجماعـات المحّلّيـة؛
تمكيـن تمويـلاً دوليـاً للحمـلات الشـعبية المحليـة ولبنـاء الوعـي المجتمعـي لضمـان مشـاركة عاليـة للناخبيـن المحلييـن ولتقليـل مخاطـر عرقلـة الإنتخابـات؛
ضمـان إجـراء إنتخابـات مسـتقّلة وعادلـة وحـّرة؛
تخصيـص ميزانّيـات طويلـة الأجـل وتفعيـل برامـج لبنـاء قـدرات موظفـي القطـاع العـام المحّلّييـن المنتَخبيـن واُلمَعَّينيـن
.تخصيـص ميزانّيـات طويلـة الأجـل لإدخـال حوكمـة إلكترونّيـة محليـة موثوقة وشفافة ومجهّزة لتمكين التعافي والنمو في سنجار.

واختتمت الورقة السياسية بالقول: " لاغنـى عـن إدارة عامـة مسـتدامة تمّثـل جماعات سـنجار حسـن التمثيـل من أجل العودة الآمنـة والمتمكّـن منهـا.

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا .

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا .

###

يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش ، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

تأسّست The Zovighian Partnership عام ٢٠١٣ م الموافق ١٤٣٤هـ بمبادرة والدٍ وكريمته، وهي منصّة عائليّة للاستثمار الاجتماعيّ. يلتزم المكتب العام لـ The Zovighian Partnership بتقديم موارد لإرساء منهجية قائمة على أسس وحوكمة سليمة وتفكير استراتيجي صارم للمجتمعات والمدن التي تمر بأزمة.

Severe insecurity risks future of Yazidis in Sinjar, warns new policy paper

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 10:56:50 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

September 22, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Rana Farah

+961 (3) 004267

press@zovighianpartnership.com

SINJAR, September 22, 2022 – Yazidis are calling upon local governments and the international community to strengthen security in Sinjar. A policy paper titled, “Collapsed security threatens the future of Yazidis and minorities in Sinjar,” documents the effects of deprived security and fragile rule of law, according to community members on the ground.

This position paper, co-authored by Yazda and The Zovighian Partnership, was released on September 22, 2022. It is the first in a two-part series of policy briefs that calls to urgently resolve critical challenges to secure a safe and sustainable return to Sinjar. The editors, writers, and contributors co-participated in a Yazidi-led policy definition process to identify critical obstacles, urgent priorities, and time-critical recommendations.

The paper and key findings will be presented and debated in a panel hosted by the Middle East program of the Wilson Center welcoming US government officials and key stakeholders congressional offices in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 12:00-13:00 EST. Key speakers include Haider Elias, Co-founder & President of Yazda; Nadine Maenza, President of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat; and Lynn Zovighian, Co-founder & Managing Director of The Zovighian Partnership. RSVPs for in-person and online participation is now open.

Absence of safety and security threatens the future of Yazidis

“Security is today the most significant challenge facing Yazidis and Sinjaris who wish to return back home,” explains Ahmed Khudida Burjus, Director at Yazda.

Minority communities continue to face pervasive long-term effects of genocide and war crimes committed by Da’esh in Sinjar. Today, the growing presence of other armed groups and militias are also threatening the future of Yazidis and minorities. Without security, over 250,000 displaced Yazidis are unable to return home. Many of those who attempted to return have been re-displaced back to IDP camps.

The chronic breakdown of security is compromising sovereignty and rule of law, both of which are co-requisites for any meaningful recovery. Lynn Zovighian, Co-founder and Managing Director of The Zovighian Partnership, explains, “Until security is guaranteed, there can be no socio-economic recovery and development in Sinjar.” Insecurity is also hindering survivor calls for justice and demands for credible public institutions.

Key policy priorities and recommendations: Strengthen security in Sinjar

The policy paper features six very urgent Yazidi-led and survivor-centered solutions to strengthen security in Sinjar.

Re-visit the Sinjar Agreement, setting clear deadlines to comprehensively implement community-inclusive sovereignty, security, and safety.
Allocate long-term budgets and activate programing for the community-based recruitment and capacity-building of local law enforcement bodies;
Close all non-state checkpoints and deploy trained and long-term funded local law enforcers to guarantee the safe and trusted movement of goods, aid, humanitarian workers, public servants, and communities.
Establish and fund a multi-stakeholder taskforce for Sinjar with seats allocated to community-appointed representatives with assurances of comprehensive community inclusion.
Establish and fund a local communities-led grassroots independent body to track, study, document, and address direct and indirect consequences of insecurity on the welfare of Sinjaris; and
Study, reform, and introduce legislation to ensure the constitutional right to safety and protection of Sinjaris in the laws, policies, and strategic commitments of all stakeholders.

The position paper closes with a warning: “Without agile and measurable action, Sinjar will not be given voice, and therefore, not get to meaningfully participate in the long-term recovery and future of Iraq.”

With heightened concerns towards the political and security situation in Iraq, Yazda and The Zovighian Partnership will be meeting with United States government officials to ensure the Yazidi Cause and plight of minorities are not sidelined.

Download press release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

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Survivors reveal threats to community extermination in Sinjar in first Yazidi-led documentary

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 17:45:11 GMT

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August 15, 2022

August 16, 2022

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SINJAR, August 15, 2022 – A Yazidi-led short documentary investigating the precarious situation in Sinjar was released on the eight-year commemoration of the Kocho massacres. The documentary, titled “This is still genocide,” features the quests of Yazidi survivors and community members to safely rebuild their lives in Sinjar.

Directed by Mohamad Chreyteh, the documentary was commissioned, funded, and co-produced by Lynn Zovighian and The Zovighian Partnership to serve as a public advocacy asset for the Yazidi people. Yazda, a Yazidi community institution, facilitated the participation of Yazidis to share their voices, in line with survivor ethical protocols.

On camera, Yazidi Sinjaris describe key threats to community extermination eight years into the Yazidi Genocide. They shed a new human light on the ongoing devastation that has left Sinjar unsuitable for community and human life, stated Luqman, the Keeper of Lalish Temple, in the documentary. “The Yazidi people, after Da’esh entered their homeland have lived a very difficult life,” he explained.

Sinjar City and the surrounding towns and villages have become extremely unsafe and non-viable for historic resident communities and families. Scenes of the infrastructural, economic, and social destruction in Sinjar demonstrate how the Yazidi people and all Sinjaris have become victims of political inaction from national and international stakeholders. To date, both the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government have yet to implement a holistic and inclusive Sinjar Agreement.

“Today, everything is urgent, from security and representation in Sinjar to infrastructure, housing, basic services, economic re-development, education, health, an end to the permanence of the IDP camps,” stated Lynn Zovighian, Co-founder & Managing Director of The Zovighian Partnership at the premiere of “This is still genocide” during the eighth annual commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide on August 1.

Survivors share their fears on the overwhelming security threats from destabilizing armed groups, which is inhibiting the possibilities of families to safely leave the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and return home to their historic villages in Sinjar.

The mission of the Commission for Investigating and Gathering Evidence, established by the Kurdistan Regional Government, is to gather evidence investigate, and build cases for the crimes committed by Da’esh .

“The situation in Sinjar is not secure. There are several parties in Sinjar. We cannot go back,” exclaimed Hassan, an internally displaced Yazidi featured in the documentary, who welcomed the production crew in his tent in a makeshift IDP camp.

“The government has not been able to provide security and stability for the Yazidi people. Therefore, I will remain armed to protect the Yazidi identity and the Yazidi people and the territory,” stated Khal Ali, Lalish Brigade Commander.

The documentary scrutinizes the obstruction of justice for the Yazidi people. Bafren, a Yazidi survivor of Da’esh sexual enslavement shared, “We will not hide the crimes of Da’esh . We will continue to say that these acts should never happen again.”

In a visit to the Commission for Investigating and Gathering Evidence, established by the Kurdistan Regional Government, the documentary features Senior Investigative Judge Ayman Mustapha who is responsible for preparing judicial files for the crimes committed by Da’esh .

“The mission of the investigating commission is to gather evidence, investigate, and build cases. However, no judiciary body exists to take these cases to court,” says Mustapha, confirming that the absence of a national plan to coordinate these trials with the Government of Iraq is obstructing justice.

Jameel Chomer, Yazda Country Director says on camera: “Everyone needs to understand that there will be no reconciliation without justice.”

The temple of Lalish in northern Iraq is the oldest temple in the Yazidi religion. The doors of Lalish are open to all people.

“The footage you saw today in no way demonstrates the colossal magnitude of the complexities and dangers facing Sinjaris today. We did not include footage of Mount Sinjar in August 2014 with children and corpses laying bare […] women being chained and traded for perverts seeking the pleasures of sexual violence. […] But I hope, what we were able to show you in less than 10 minutes is what life in Sinjar feels like for survivors who escaped all these atrocities. But those atrocities can never escape them,” stated Zovighian during the premiere.

Sinjar Academy Founder and Yazda Organization Co-founder and former Executive Director, Murad Ismael, commented: “This is a powerful documentary depicting the state of the Yazidi community eight years since the start of genocide. It put me in tears and probably will do the same to you. But we should not close our eyes on a people who collectively suffer. It is necessary to tell this story once again, because the world has moved on, while the Yazidis cannot.”

Sharing his experience on the ground while filming in Lalish and Sinjar City, Mohamad Chreyteh , the documentary director shared: “It was a soul-enriching experience meeting such a peaceful community. I had the chance to talk to survivors of extermination, listen to their stories and feel their personal ongoing struggle. I felt angry and frustrated for a couple of days, but my visit to Lalish magically contributed to my comfort. And meeting members of the Yazidi community in their holiest site practicing their beliefs despite the oppression and the pain they went through, adjusted my state of mind and boosted my storytelling not only to report about the Yazidis but also to think of all the victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief.” The documentary pits the peace loving nature of the Yazidi people against the terrors they are now living every day.

Beyond documenting the colossal long-term consequences of the Yazidi Genocide, the aim of this short documentary is to galvanize national and international action and accountability for Sinjar and all Sinjaris. “Rebuilding Sinjar should be co-defined with the Yazidi people, integrating their voices, their needs, their identity, their unique ways of life, and the socio-cultural and religious fabric that makes them community,” stated Zovighian.

Haider Elias, Co-founder & President of Yazda Organization, stated at the premiere: “To the international community: We need your support more than any other community and more than any other time. We are calling for your help; either help the Yazidis to stay in this country, resettle them in their homes, or help us leave this country.”

On camera, Khaled, who miraculously survived mass field executions in the town of Kocho in the initial days of the Yazidi Genocide campaign by Da’esh , says: “I feel that Sinjar and our land cannot stand on its own two feet like before.”

Yazidism is an ancient religion, over seven thousands years old. The word “Yazidi” is “Azdai,” meaning “God created me.”

Download press release he re .

For the Arabic version, click here .

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Yazda is a global community-led institution that protects and champions all religious and ethnic minority communities, including Assyrians, Chaldeans, Kakais, Shabak, Turkmen, and Yazidis in Iraq, Kurdistan Region, and Syria.

Founded in 2014 at the onset of the genocide perpetuated by Da’esh, also known as Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidis, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity against other minorities, Yazda leads advocacy and strategic projects in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains, as well as global diaspora hubs.

ناجون يكشفون عن تهديدات بإبادة مجتمع بأكمله في سنجار في أول فيلم وثائقي بقيادة الإيزيديين

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 13:35:21 GMT

جميع حقوق ملكيّة الصّورة محفوظة © ٢٠٢٢ ل محمد شريتح / The Zovighian Partnership

رنا فرح

+961 (3) 004267

press@zovighianpartnership.com

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تمّ إصدار فيلم وثائقي قصير بقيادة الإيزيديين يحقق في الوضع غير المستقر في سنجار، في الذكرى السنوية الثامنة لمجزرة كوجو. يعرض الفيلم الوثائقي، الذي يحمل عنوان "الإيزيديون: ٨ سنوات من الإبادة،" سعي الناجين الإيزيديين وأفراد المجتمع لإعادة بناء حياتهم بأمان في سنجار.

من إخراج محمد شريتح، تمّ تكليف لين زوفيكيان و The Zovighian Partnership بإعداد، تمويل والمشاركة في إنتاج هذا الوثائقي ليشكّل إحدى الأصول العامة لمناصرة الإيزيديين. يزدا، منظمّة تعنى بالإيزيديين، سهّلت مشاركة الإيزيديين للتعبير عن أصواتهم، تماشياً مع البروتوكولات الأخلاقية للناجين.

أمام الكاميرا، وصف الإيزيديون السنجاريون التهديدات الكبرى بإبادة مجتمع بأكمله مع دخول الإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية سنتها الثامنة. كما ألقوا الضوء على الدمار المستمرّ الذي جعل من سنجار غير صالحة للعيش، على حدّ تعبير لقمان، حارس معبد لالش، في الوثائقي. الذي قال: " الإيزيديون، بعد دخول داعش إلى مناطقهم، أصبحوا يعيشون حياة صعبة جداً."

مدينة سنجار والمدن والقرى المحيطة أصبحت غير آمنة والحياة فيها غير صالحة لجميع المجتمعات والعائلات التاريخية المقيمة فيها. مشاهد الدمار في البنى التحتية، الدمار الاقتصادي والاجتماعي تظهر بشكل واضح كيف أنّ الإيزيديين اليوم أصبحوا ضحايا التقاعس السياسي من قبل أصحاب المصلحة المحليين والدوليين. لغاية اليوم، لم تقوم بعد كلّ من حكومة العراق وحكومة إقليم كردستان بتطبيق اتفاقية سنجار بشكل كامل وشامل.

"اليوم، هناك العديد من الأمور الملحّة، بدءً من الأمن وتمثيل الجميع في سنجار وصولاً إلى البنى التحتية، الإسكان، الخدمات الأساسية، إعادة التنمية الاقتصادية، التعليم، الصحّة، ووضع حدّ لاستمراريّة مخيّمات النازحين،" أشارت لين زوفيكيان، المؤسسة المشاركة والمديرة الإدارية ل The Zovighian Partnership في العرض الأوّلي للوثائقي "الإيزيديون: ٨ سنوات من الإبادة" خلال الذكرى السنوية الثامنة للإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية في ١ أغسطس.

شارك الإيزيديون مخاوفهم من التهديدات الأمنية الناتجة عن وجود الجماعات المسلّحة التي تزعزع الاستقرار، ممّا يحد من قدرة العائلات على مغادرة مخيمات النازحين داخليًا بأمان والعودة إلى ديارهم في قراهم التاريخية في سنجار.

مهمّة هيئة التحقيق وجمع الأدلّة والمعالجة التابعة لإقليم كردستان جمع الأدلّة، التحقيق، وبناء ملفّات قضائية بالانتهاكات التي ارتكبها تنظيم داعش.

"الوضع في سنجار غير آمن. هناك العديد من الأحزاب في سنجار. لا يمكننا العودة،" قال حسن، نازح إيزيدي داخلي الذي ظهر في الوثائقي، والذي قام باستقبال فريق الإنتاج في خيمته في إحدى المخيّمات المؤقتة للنازحين داخلياً.

" الحكومة لم تستطيع توفير الأمن والاستقرار للقوميّة الإيزيدية. لذلك، سأبقى مسلّحاً مدافعاً عن القوميّة الإيزيدية وأبناء القوميّة الإيزيدية، والجغرافيا،" أشار خال علي، أحد المقاتلين الإيزيديين.

الفيلم الوثائقي يدقّق في عرقلة العدالة أمام الشعب الإيزيدي. بافرين، ناجية إيزيدية من الاستعباد الجنسي أشارت، "لن نقوم بإخفاء جرائم داعش . سنستمرّ بالقول بأن هذه الأعمال لا يجب أن تتكرّر."

في زيارة لهيئة التحقيق وجمع الأدلّة والمعالجة التابعة لإقليم كردستان، يظهر في الوثائقي قاضي التحقيق أيمن مصطفى المسؤول عن إعداد ملفّات قضائية بالانتهاكات التي ارتكبها تنظيم داعش .

"مهمّة هيئة التحقيق تقوم بجمع الأدلّة، تقوم بالتحقيق، وبناء قضايا. لكن، ليس هناك جهاز قضائي لإحالة هذه القضايا عليه إلى المحاكمة،" لفت مصطفى، مؤكّداً أنّ عدم وجود خطّة وطنية لتنسيق هذه المحاكمات مع الحكومة العراقية يعطّل مسار العدالة.

بدوره، تحدّث جميل شومار، المدير القطري لمنظّمة يزدا، للكاميرا قائلاً: "على الجميع أن يفهم أنّه ليس هناك مصالحة ما لم تكن هناك عدالة."

معبد لالش شمالي العراق هو المعبد الوحيد والقديم للإبادة الإيزيدية. أبواب معبد لالش مفتوحة لجميع الناس.

"شهدت كاميراتنا كيف يبدو نزع الطابع الإنساني٬ كيف بدا وكيف يبدو. لا تظهر اللقطات التي شاهدتموها اليوم بأي حالة من الأحوال هول حجم التعقيدات والمخاطر التي تمثل أمام سنجار اليوم. لم نقم بتضمين لقطات في سنجار في أغسطس ٢٠١٤ مع أطفال يتضورون جوعاً وجثثاً عارية [...] لنساء يتم تقييدهن بالسلاسل وتبادلهن مع المنحرفين يبحثون عن ملذات العنف الجنسي [...] ولكن آمل من كل قلبي أن نكون قد استطعنا بأقل من عشر دقائق أن نعكس ما شعرنا به وما يشعر به الآن الناجين في سنجار من فظائع، والذين تمكّنوا من الإفلات من هذه الفظائع، ولكن هذه الفظائع تركت بصمة لا تُمحى،" قالت لين زوفيكيان خلال العرض الأوّلي للوثائقي.

علّق مؤسس أكاديميّة سنجار والمؤسس المشارك والمدير التنفيذي السابق لمنظّمة يزدا، مراد إسماعيل بالقول: "هذا وثائقي قوي يصوّر حالة المجتمع الإيزيدي بعد ثماني سنوات على بداية الإبادة الجماعية. لقد اغرورقت عيناي بالدموع لدى مشاهدته، وأظنّ بأنه سيكون له تأثير مماثل عليكم. ولكن، لا ينبغي أن نغضّ النظر عن شعب يعاني جماعياً. من الضروري أن نخبر القصّة مرّة أخرى، لأنّ العالم قد مضى قدماً، إنمّا الإيزيديون لا يمكنهم القيام بذلك."

مشاركاً تجربته الميدانية خلال تصوير الفيلم في لالش في مدينة سنجار، قال محمد شريتح ، مخرج الفيلم الوثائقي: "لقاء هذا المجتمع المسالم كانت تجربة تغني الروح. لقد تسنّت لي فرصة التحدّث مع الناجين من الإبادة، الإصغاء لقصصهم، وأن أشعر بصراعهم الشخصي المستمرّ. انتابني الغضب الشديد لبعض الأيام، ولكن زيارتي للالش أسهمت بطريقة سحريّة بإشعاري بالراحة. ولقاء عناصر من المجتمع الإيزيدي في أقدس موقع لهم يمارسون طقوسهم ومعتقداتهم رغم الظلم والألم الذي مرّوا به، عدّل الحالة الذهنية التي كنت فيها وعزّز طريقتي في السرد ليس فقط لأقدّم تقرير عن الإيزيديين إنمّا للتفكير بجميع ضحايا أعمال العنف القائمة على أساس الدين والمعتقد." هذا الوثائقي يحفّز على طبيعة الشعب الإيزيدي المحبّ للسلام ضدّ حالة الرعب التي يعيشونها الآن كلّ يوم.

إلى جانب توثيق العواقب الهائلة والطويلة المدى للإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية ، فإن الهدف من هذا الفيلم الوثائقي القصير هو تحفيز العمل الوطني والدولي والمساءلة لسنجار وجميع السنجاريين. "إعادة إعمار سنجار يجب أن تتمّ بالاشتراك مع الشعب الإيزيدي، لدمج أصواته، احتياجاه، هويّته، وطرق عيشه الفريدة، والتركيبة الاجتماعية والثقافية والدينية التي تجعل منه مجتمع،" أشارت زوفيكيان.

ولفت حيدر الياس، المؤسس المشارك؛ ورئيس منظمّة يزدا خلال العرض الأوّلي للوثائقي: "إلى المجتمع الدولي نقول، نحتاج إلى دعمكم أكثر من أي مجتمع آخر وأكثر من أي وقت آخر. نحن نطلب مساعدتكم؛ إما مساعدتنا في البقاء كإيزيديين وإيزيديات للبقاء في هذا البلد، إعادة الاستقرار في منازلنا، أو مساعدتنا في مغادرة هذا البلد."

أمام الكاميرا، تحدّث خالد الذي نجا بأعجوبة من الإعدامات الجماعية في قرية كوجو في أوّل أيّام الإبادة الجماعيّة الإيزيدية التي شنّها داعش ، وقال: "أشعر أنّ سنجار لا يمكن أن تقف على رجليها كما في السابق."

الإيزيديّة هي ديانة قديمة يعود تاريخها إلى أكثر من سبعة آلاف سنة. كلمة "إيزيدي معناها " أزداي وتعني "الله خلقني."

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا.

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يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش ، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

العدالة التي طال أنتظارها للناجين من داعش: ورقة موقف حول آلية تركز على الناجين لمساءلة داعش في العراق

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 07:47:47 GMT

التجمع التذكاري بمناسبة الذكرى السنوية السادسة قرب مقبرة جماعية في قرية حردان، سنجار في الثالث من آب عام ٢٠١٩. جميع حقوق ملكيّة الصّورة محفوظة © يزدا.

ناتيا نوروزوف

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

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١٥ أغسطس، ٢٠٢٢

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قبل ثمان سنوات، في 15 آب/ أغسطس 2014، قام مقاتلي ما يدعى بالدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام، تعرف بداعش أيضاً بقتل أو استعباد أكثر من 1،250 شخص أيزيدي من سكان قرية كوجو. قُتل أربع مائة رجل في ذلك اليوم، بينما لا يزال معظم النساء والأطفال البالغين عددهم 800 في الأسر. مجزرة كوجو تشكل جزءً بسيطاً من الفظائع التي إرتكبها داعش في العراق.

على الرغم من أن فريق التحقيق الدولي للأمم المتحدة لتعزيز المساءلة عن الجرائم المرتكبة من قبل داعش (يونيتاد) قد أحرز تقدماً بجمع الأدلة لجرائم داعش ضد الأيزيديين، الشيعة، السنة، المسيحيين، الكاكائيين، الشبك، والتركمان الشيعة. وحتى أنهم عثروا على "أدلة واضحة ومقنعة لإرتكاب جريمة إبادة جماعية من قبل داعش ضد الأيزيديين كمجومعة دينية" لم يتم إحراز أي تقدم ملموس خلال الثمان سنوات الماضية في العراق لمحاكمة أولئك المسؤولين عن تلك الجرائم المروعة لما هي في الحقيقة: جرائم إبادة جماعية، جرائم حرب، وجرائم ضد الإنسانية.

بتعبير شبكة الناجيات الأيزيديات (واي اس أين):

"العراق هو المكان الذي بدء الإرهاب ضدنا نحن الأيزيديين، هو المكان الذي ينتمي إليه معظم قادة داعش ، هو المكان حيث تم قتلنا أو خطفنا.

إن لم تكن محاكمة عناصر داعش في العراق، إذاً أين سيحاكمون؟

من المهم أن تتخذ هذه العدالة مجراها في العراق، فقط حينئذِ سنثق بالعودة إلى بلادنا ثانيةً.

نحن ننتظر لتحقيق ذلك منذ ثمان سنوات، إلى متى يتوجب علينا الإنتظار؟"

أقر المشرعون العراقيون بضرورة ضمان المساءلة الجنائية عن هذه الفظائع: أعلن قانون الناجيات الأيزيديات الصادر في آذار/ مارس 2021، في المادة 7 من بأن الجرائم التي إرتكبها داعش ضد الأيزيديين، التركمانيين، المسيحيين، والشبك وجيمع الأقليات تعتبر جرائم إبادة جماعية، وجرائم ضد الإنسانية، و أن وزارة الخارجية ستعمل على الكشف عن هذه الجرائم في المحافل الدولية وبدء إجراءات جنائية ضد مرتكبيها.

بمناسبة ذكرى مجزرة كوجو ولتكريم جميع الناجيين من داعش ستقوم المنظمات العراقية غير الحكومية الحليفة في الإئتلاف التعويض العادل ( سي 4 جي ار)، بنشر ورقة موقف تتضمن الملامح القانونية، السياسية والعملية الأساسية لآلية لتقديم أعضاء داعش المسؤولين عن الإبادة الجماعية، جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية إلى العدالة عن جرائمهم.

كانت ورقة الموقف هذه نتيجة أكثر من عام من المناقشات بين أعضاء إئتلاف التعويض العادل بهدف تحديد المبادئ التي ينبغي أن تستند عليها آلية المساءلة الجنائية لعناصر داعش التي طال انتظارها. و إسترشدت المناقشات بآراء الناجين و التجارب السابقة لعمليات المساءلة عن الجرائم الفظيعة في العراق، وإستندت إلى القانون العراقي وكذلك القانون الدولي وأفضل الممارسات.

الغرض من ورقة الموقف هذه ينقسم إلى قسمين:

إدخال زخم جديد على إلتزام العراق بمواصلة المساءلة الجنائية عن الجرائم الدولية التي يرتكبها داعش في العراق عن طريق تحديد أفضل الممارسات الدولة المتعلقة بإشراك الناجين واحترام حقوقهم واحتياجاتهم إثناء الإجراءات الجنائية؛

لتوفير منبر للمنظمات غير الحكومية والناشطين العراقيين والدوليين يمكن من خلاله القيام بأنشطة إستشارية، موضوعية ومستنيرة للدعوة مع شركاء عراقيين ودوليين يقترحون حلولاً ملموسة، بدلاً من مطالب عامة، بشأن كيفية أحترام الناجين فراد وعوائلهم ومجتمعاتهم المحلية والأعتراف بهم في الإجراءات الجنائية المرتقبة.

لهذا الغرض، فإننا المنظمات الموقعة أدناه، نناشد السلطات العراقية أن تنظر بجدية في الأقتراحات الواردة في ورقة الموقف، و أن تبحث عن طريقة لوضع حد للإفلات من العقاب على إنتهاكات حقوق الإنسان التي يرتكبها عناصر تنظيم داعش والمتواطئون معه في العراق. و أن تتخذ قراراً بشأنها، بالتشاور مع الناجين والمجتمع المدني وبما يتماشى مع القانون الوطني والدولي.

خالص تحياتي

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا .

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا .

Justice Long Overdue for ISIL Survivors: Position Paper on a survivor-centered ISIL Accountability Mechanism in Iraq

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 07:47:30 GMT

Sixth annual commemorative gathering near a mass grave in Hardan, Sinjar on August 3, 2019. © Yazda

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

August 15, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Natia Navrouzov

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Eight years ago, on August 15, 2014, militants of so-called Islamic State in Syria and the Levant (ISIL) also known as Da’esh , either killed or enslaved more than 1,250 inhabitants of the Yezidi village of Kocho. Four hundred men were killed on that day, and many of the 800 kidnaped women and children still remain in captivity. The Kocho massacre constitutes only a fraction of the atrocities ISIL committed in Iraq.

Despite the fact that the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) has made progress in collecting evidence of ISIL crimes against Yazidis, Shia, Sunni, Christian, Kaka’i, Shabak and Turkmen Shia and even found “clear and convincing evidence that genocide was committed by ISIL against the Yazidi as a religious group”, no tangible progress has been made in the past eight years in Iraq to prosecute those responsible for these horrific crimes for what they are: genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In the words of the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN):

“Iraq is where the terror started for us, Yazidis; It is from where most ISIL leaders are from; It is where we were killed or abducted from.

If ISIL members are not persecuted in Iraq, then where will they be prosecuted?

It is important that this justice takes place in Iraq, only then will we be able to trust our country again.

We have been waiting for this for eight years, until when will we need to wait?”

The necessity of ensuring criminal accountability for these atrocities has been recognized by Iraqi lawmakers: the Yazidi Survivors Law enacted in March 2021 declared, in Article 7, that crimes committed by Da'esh against the Yazidis, Turkmen, Christian and Shabak minority groups shall be considered genocide and crimes against humanity, and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work to reveal these crimes in international forums and to initiate criminal proceedings against the perpetrators.

On the anniversary of the Kocho massacre and to honour all ISIL survivors, Iraqi NGOs allied in the Coalition for Just Reparations (C4JR), publish a Position Paper containing basic legal, policy and practical contours of a mechanism to bring ISIL members responsible for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity to justice for their crimes.

This Position Paper was the outcome of over a year of intensive discussion between C4JR members aimed at identifying principles on which the long overdue criminal accountability mechanism for ISIL should be based. The discussion was informed by the views of survivors and by past experiences of accountability processes for atrocity crimes in Iraq, and grounded in Iraqi as well as international law and best practices.

The purpose of this Position Paper is twofold:

To bring fresh momentum to Iraq’s commitment to pursue criminal accountability for international crimes committed by ISIL in Iraq by delineating best international practices on involving survivors and respecting their rights and needs during criminal proceedings;

To provide a platform for Iraqi and international NGOs and activists through which consultative, substantive and informed advocacy may be conducted with Iraqi and international partners suggesting concrete solutions, rather than general demands, on how to respect and acknowledge individual survivors, their families and communities in the prospective criminal proceedings.

To that end, we, the undersigned organizations implore the Iraqi authorities to seriously consider suggestions outlined in the Position Paper, to search for and decide on a way to end impunity for human rights violations committed by ISIL members and accomplices in Iraq, in consultation with survivors and civil society and in line with international and national law.

Sincerely Yours,

[C4JR member organizations and partners]

Download press release click here .

For the arabic version, click here .

الناجون الإيزيديون يكشفون عن التحدّيات أمام تحقيق العدالة الانتقالية

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 13:54:49 GMT

رنا فرح

+961 (3) 004267

press@zovighianpartnership.com

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

١٤ آب ٢٠٢٢

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

يطالب الناجون الإيزيديون الحكومات الوطنية والدولية بدعم مطالبهم بالعدالة والمساءلة بما يتجاوز مجرّد الاعتراف بالإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية. في تقرير تقوده أصوات الإيزيديين بعنوان: "لماذا يجب عدم غضّ النظر عن الدعوات لتحقيق العدالة الانتقالية للناجين من الإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية؟"، الذي نشر في عرب نيوز، يصف الناجون الإيزيديون ما يشكل عدالة شخصية وجماعية بعد هروبهم من أسر داعش والعودة إلى عائلاتهم في مخيمات مؤقتة في سنجار.

في تعاون خاص مع قسم الأبحاث والدراسات في عرب نيوز، قامت منظّمة يزدا وهي منظمة تقوم بمناصرة الإيزيديين بالتعاون مع The Zovighian Partnership بإصدار تقرير مشترك كتبه المؤلفان المشاركان ناتيا نوروسوف ولين زوفيكيان مع أعضاء شبكة الناجين الإيزيديين.

يسلّط التقرير الضوء على ضرورة تمكين المرأة في عمليات بناء السلام بعد النزاعات. تمّت دراسة وتحليل الإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية بصفتها مثال على أهمية إشراك النساء في عملية صنع القرار، من أجل تحقيق العدالة والمساءلة. على حدّ تعبير أحد الناجين في التقرير: "يتعزّز دور المرأة في الأمن والسلام من خلال دعم المرأة في لعب دور نشط في عملية بناء السلام بعد النزاعات، وهذا ما نحتاج إليه كنساء ناجيات من قبضة داعش ."

قالت السيّدة ناتيا نوروسوف، مديرة المرافعة القانونية في منظّمة يزدا، التي تقوم بمناصرة الناجين الإيزيديين: الناجون اليوم هم مناصرين لا غنى عنهم لمبادرات العدالة الانتقالية. فقط من خلال مشاركتهم الكاملة في عمليات صنع القرار، ستتمكّن العراق من تشكيل مجتمع آمن وشامل ".

بدوره، أشار طارق علي أحمد، رئيس وحدة الأبحاث والدراسات في عرب نيوز، أنّه " كجزء من سلسلة تقرير الأقليات لدينا في وحدة البحوث والدراسات في عرب نيوز، فإننا نركز على تسليط الضوء على تاريخ ومحن جميع الأقليات العرقية في جميع أنحاء العالم. كان المجتمع الإيزيدي في طليعة الذين تعرّضوا لهجمات داعش في العراق وسوريا، ومن المهم فهم أهمية رواية قصصهم."

يقدّم التقرير تحليلاً قانونيًا ودعويًا تم جمعه من الخطب العامة وجلسات التشاور مع الناجين الإيزيديين ويحدد ثلاث ركائز وآليات رئيسية لتحقيق العدالة الانتقالية.

١. الناجون يشهدون تحقيق العدالة من خلال محاكمة مرتكبي داعش على جرائم الإبادة الجماعية
اليوم، اقتصرت الإجراءات ضد مقاتلي داعش في العراق على جرائم الإرهاب. في حين تطالب الناجيات الإيزيديات بالإدلاء بشهادتهن ضد مرتكبي الإبادة الجماعية في المحكمة، هناك غياب توفير آليات العدالة من أجل محاكمة مرتكبي داعش على جرائم الإبادة الجماعية. يطالب بعض الناجين بالتدخّل الدولي لأنّهم لا يثقون بالإجراءات القانونية في إقليم كردستان والعراق. علّق أحد أعضاء شبكة الناجيات الإيزيديات بعد محاكمة أحد عناصر داعش في المحاكم الألمانية: "لا نريد أن تصبح قضيتنا ساحة

للمعارك السياسية بين القوى الدينية والسياسية المتصارعة.

سيضمن التواجد الدولي في قاعة المحكمة أن تكون جلسة المحاكمة موضوعية وعادلة وأن نحصل على العدالة التي نبحث عنها، والأهم من ذلك، العدالة التي يمكننا الوثوق بها ". تتطلّب دعوات الناجين بالمساءلة الجنائية الموثوقة ضرورة القيام بإصلاحات مؤسسية وإثباتًا لاستقلالية القضاء.

٢- العودة الآمنة إلى سنجار كمواطنين متمكنين

اليوم، إن فشل تصميم وتطبيق اتفاقية سنجار بشكل شامل يُمأسس المخاطر الأمنية وعدم تمثيل الإيزيديين والأقليات في الحكومة المحلية والإدارة العامة. بالرغم من معاناة السنجاريين، والعراقيين، والأكراد على أيادي داعش ، يشرح الناجون أن ما من جهود قد بذلت لتشجيع المصالحة وحل الأشكال العميقة الجذور للتمييز والاضطهاد ضد الأقليات. أوضحت إحدى الناجيات في التقرير: "تجد المرأة السلام والأمن والتمكين عندما تكون محمية، وعندما تتلقى الدعم الكافي وعندما يتم تمكينها لتكون مستقلة". على هذا النحو، يعتقد الناجون أنهم لا يستطيعون العودة إلى سنجار كمواطنين متمكّنين ويشعرون أنهم محرومون من العدالة."

٣- استعادة أفراد الأسرة المفقودين وتعويضهم عن الفترة التي قضوها في الأسر

يشدّد الناجون على أهمية استعادة أفراد الأسرة المفقودين وحصولهم على تعويضات عن الفترة التي قضوها في أسر داعش . تشير إحصائية حديثة بين مكتب إنقاذ الإيزيديين في كردستان ويزدا إلى أن عدد الإيزيديين الذين ما زالوا في عداد المفقودين يبلغ ٢،٦٧٠. ضغط الناجون من أجل مشروع قانون الناجين الإيزيديين، الذي تمّ إقراره في عام ٢٠٢١ ، والذي يعترف بالإبادة الجماعية للإيزيديين ويؤسس إطارًا لتعويضات النساء التي تمّ استعبادهنّ من قبل داعش . لكن يجد الناجون أن ضعف وعدم تطبيق هذا القانون هو أمر مهين وهو مثال آخر على كيفية تعامل المؤسسات العراقية مع الإيزيديين كمواطنين درجة ثانية. لا تزال عمليات استخراج الجثث من القبور الجماعية مستمرة، مما يثني السنجاريين عن العودة إلى قراهم. يسلط التقرير الضوء أيضًا على دعوات الناجين الإيزيديين لتشكيل فريق عمل رسمي طال انتظاره للبحث والإنقاذ لإعادة النساء والرجال والأطفال الذين لا يزالون محتجزين من قبل مقاتلي داعش إلى موطنهم بأمان.

تقرير المصير والحوكمة بقيادة المجتمع جزء لا يتجزأ من العدالة

الناجون الإيزيديون يريدون المطالبة بحقوقهم. على حدّ تعبير أحد أعضاء شبكة الناجيات الإيزيديات: ""يجب أن تكون الناجيات ناشطات في ضمان سلام وأمن المرأة لأنفسهن وللآخرين على حد سواء؛ يجب أن تقدن الأنشطة التي توفر لهن السلام والأمن حتى يشعرن بأنهن متعاونات ولسن ضحايا ".

تشرح لين زوفيكيان ، المؤسسة المشاركة والمديرة الإدارية ل The Zovighian Partnership ، "هناك حاجة إلى حوكمة مبتكرة يقودها المجتمع للسماح للشعب الإيزيدي بتحقيق العدالة الانتقالية والتمتّع بملكيتها بشكل كامل وفقًا لشروطه الخاصة".

ويختتم المؤلفون المشاركون التقرير بالتشديد على أهمية جهود إعادة الإدماج وإعادة التنمية بعد النزاعات: "بعد ثماني سنوات من الإبادة الجماعية التي لا تزال بلا نهاية، فإن الشعب الإيزيدي لديه الكثير ليعلمه ويلهم به. من خلال إحياء وتكريم ضحايا جرائم الإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية ، يمكن أن تصبح سنجار قضية للعدالة مبنية على تقرير المصير المجتمعي والقانون الدولي الذي يمكّن جهود بناء السلام في مناطق النزاع الأخرى."

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا .

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يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش ، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

Yazidi genocide survivors reveal challenges to achieving transitional justice

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 13:53:55 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

August 14, 2022

August 18, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Rana Farah

+961 (3) 004267

press@zovighianpartnership.com

RIYADH, August 12, 2022 –Yazidi survivors are calling upon national and international governments to support their demands for justice and accountability, beyond just recognizing the Yazidi Genocide. In a survivor-led report titled, “Why calls for transitional justice for Yazidi genocide survivors must not go unheard,” published in Arab News, Yazidi survivors describe what constitutes personal and collective justice after escaping Da’esh captivity and returning to their families in makeshift camps in Sinjar.

In a special collaboration with Arab News Research & Studies, Yazda, a Yazidi-led community institution, and The Zovighian Partnership co-released a report written by co-authors Natia Navrouzov and Lynn Zovighian with members of the Yazda Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN).

The report highlights the imperative of actively empowering women in post-conflict peace-building processes. The Yazidi Genocide is analyzed as a case in point and speaks on the importance of meaningfully including women in decision-making governance to achieve justice and accountability. As one survivor explains in the report: “Women’s peace and security increases when women are supported to play an active role in post-conflict peace-building processes, and this is what we need as women who have survived Da’esh captivity.”

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director at Yazda Organization, who works closely with Yazidi survivors to advocate for their rights, explains: “Survivors are today indispensable advocates of transitional justice initiatives. Only with their full participation in decision-making processes will Iraq be able to shape a safe and inclusive society.”

"As part of our Minority Report series at the Arab News Research & Studies Unit, we make it a point to highlight the histories and plights of all ethnic minorities around the world. The Yazidi community has been at the forefront of Da’esh attacks in Iraq and Syria, and its important to understand the power of telling their stories,” stated Tarek Ali Ahmad, Head of Research & Studies at Arab News.

The report presents a legal and advocacy analysis collected from public speeches and consultative sessions with Yazidi survivors, and identifies three key pillars and mechanisms to achieve transitional justice.

Survivors seeing their day in court to prosecute Da’esh militants for crimes of genocide

While Yazidi female survivors are demanding that they testify against their genocide perpetrators in court, there is an absence of facilitated justice mechanisms to prosecute Da’esh militants for crimes of genocide. Today, proceedings against Da’esh militants in Iraq have been limited to crimes of terrorism. Some survivors are calling for international involvement because they do not trust tribunal proceedings in the Kurdistan Region or Iraq. As one YSN member remarked after the fifth conviction of a Da’esh member in German courts: “We don’t want our cases to become a political battlefield of opposing religious and political groups. An international presence in the courtroom would ensure that the process is objective and fair and that we obtain the justice we are looking for, and most importantly, the justice we can trust.” Survivor demands for trusted criminal accountability requires institutional reforms and proof of an independent judiciary.

2. Returning home to Sinjar as safe and empowered citizens

Today, the failure to design and implement an inclusive and holistic Sinjar Agreement is institutionalizing security dangers and non-representation of Yazidis and minority groups in local government and public administration. Although all Sinjaris, Iraqis, and Kurds suffered under Da’esh , survivors explain how no efforts have been done to encourage reconciliation and resolve deep-rooted forms of discrimination and persecution against minority communities. As one survivor explains in the report: “Women find peace, security and empowerment when they are secure and protected, when they receive adequate support and when they are empowered to be independent.” As such, survivors believe they cannot return to Sinjar as safe and empowered citizens and feel they are being denied justice.

3. Recovering missing family members and receiving reparations for time in captivity

Survivors also stress the importance of recovering missing family members and receiving reparations for their time in captivity by Da’esh . A recent count between the Office of Rescued Yazidis in Kurdistan and Yazda sets the number of still missing Yazidis at 2,670. Survivors lobbied for the Yazidi Survivors Bill, which became law in 2021, recognizing the Yazidi Genocide and establishing a reparations framework for women enslaved by Da’esh . However, survivors find its poor and incomplete implementation to be insulting and another example of how Iraqi public institutions are treating Yazidis as second class citizens. The exhumation of mass graves is still ongoing, further dissuading Sinjaris from returning to their villages. The report also highlights the calls of Yazidi survivors to establish a very overdue official search-and-rescue task force to safely bring back home the women, men, and children still being held by Da’esh militants.

Self-determination and community-led governance are integral to justice

Yazidi survivors want to advocate for their rights. As one YSN survivor said: “Survivors should be active in ensuring women’s peace and security for both themselves and others; they should lead the activities that provide them with peace and security so that they feel like collaborators rather than victims.”

“There is a need for innovative community-led governance to allow the Yazidi people to fully achieve and claim ownership of transitional justice on their own terms,” explains Lynn Zovighian, Co-founder and Managing Director of The Zovighian Partnership.

The co-authors conclude the report by emphasizing the importance of a post-conflict reintegration and redevelopment effort: “Eight years after a genocide that still sees no end, the Yazidi people have much to teach and inspire. By honoring the Yazidi genocide, Sinjar can become a case for justice built on community self-determination and international law that empowers peace-building efforts in other conflict zones.”

Download press release here .
For the Arabic version, click here .

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Yazidi genocide anniversary serves as grim reminder of Daesh’s crimes against humanity

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 08:08:59 GMT

For article, click here: https://arab.news/gm8wt

ذكرى الإبادة الجماعية للأيزيديين بمثابة تذكير قاتم بجرائم داعش ضد الإنسانية

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 08:08:35 GMT

للحصول على المقال، إضغط هنا: https://bit.ly/yazda-YazidiGenocide2022-KhaleejTalks-AR

Eight years into genocide, Yazidi community threatened by political inaction

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 17:05:49 GMT

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July 29, 2022

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Rana Farah

+961 (3) 004267

press@zovighianpartnership.com

400,000 displaced Yazidis have fallen victim to lack of political will and failed return to Sinjar since the onset of the genocide perpetrated by Da’esh on August 3, 2014. Convoluted and chronic challenges are inhibiting the possibilities of a sustainable future for Yazidis and other minority communities in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Yazidis demand action

During the Eighth Annual Commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide, Yazda with The Zovighian Partnership demanded urgent action in the presence of government officials, international diplomats, and aid agencies.

“While we have always welcomed speeches and calls to action that have galvanized our many stakeholders to respond to the overwhelming emergencies facing Sinjar and its historic communities, today we can no longer have words. We need very urgent action,” exclaimed Haider Elias, Co-founder and President of Yazda Organization.

The memorial commenced with a blessing from Yazidi spiritual leader Baba Sheikh, followed by words from Yazidi genocide survivors and friends of the cause. Previous commemorations had featured two-day conferences with the patronages of the Iraqi President Dr. Barham Salih, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, several ministers and members of parliament, as well as Baghdad-based ambassadors and heads of missions of international agencies.

Yazidis want to rebuild their futures and achieve their dreams. “We are the sons of the light; we believe in humanity, and we will not stop until we achieve our cause,” said Khawla Ismail Khudaida, a Yazidi survivor and a member of the Yazda Yazidi Survivors Network. She added: We need your support and advocacy to recognize the Yazidi Genocide and to hold Da’esh accountable.”

The first Yazidi survivor-led short documentary was also premiered during the commemorative event. Commissioned, funded, and co-produced by The Zovighian Partnership, the ten-minute feature film highlights multiple Yazidi voices to acknowledge the persistent forms of genocide that continue to decimate the community.

“In honor of those who have perished and as a show of solidarity to an entire peace-loving people, this documentary is meant to serve as a public advocacy asset for all Yazidis,” announced Lynn Zovighian Co-founder and Managing Director of The Zovighian Partnership.

Yazidis feel the pain of failed promises

The full scale of the tragedies of genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated by Da’esh against the Yazidi people and other minority groups in Iraq is still ongoing. Over 200,000 Yazidis remain in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. An estimated 160,000 Yazidis have left the country and the Middle East region. 2,760 Yazidi women and children captured by Dae’sh are still unaccounted for.

“No road maps or comprehensive plans have ever been developed to end the Yazidi Genocide and address the post- Dae’sh genocide period,” explained Ahmed Khudida, Deputy Executive Director at Yazda Organization.

“Lengthy inaction has made all issues pertaining to the Yazidis very complicated and difficult to resolve. These issues could have been resolved on time with proper coordination and cooperation between the KRI, the Republic of Iraq, and the international community,” added Khudida. “The international community has failed to fulfill its obligations to protect the most vulnerable, particularly women and children.”

“Survivors are ready to see justice, they have been ready for eight years now, so what are we waiting for? A clear consequence of our inaction will be to silence all their voices and to only be ready for action once it is too late,” said Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director at Yazda Organization. “That sends a dangerous message: that survivor voices and their suffering do not matter.”

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For the Arabic version, click here .

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Founded in 2014 at the onset of the genocide perpetuated by Da’esh, also known as Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidis, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity against other minorities, Yazda leads advocacy and strategic projects in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains, as well as global diaspora hubs.

مع دخول الإبادة الجماعية سنتها الثامنة، التقاعس السياسي يهدّد المجتمع الإيزيدي

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 17:00:57 GMT

جميع حقوق ملكيّة الصّورة محفوظة © ٢٠٢٢ ل خالد محمد / The Zovighian Partnership

رنا فرح

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press@zovighianpartnership.com

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لا مستقبل مستدام للايزيديين والاقليات في العراق واقليم كردستان مع استمرار الابادة الجماعية منذ سبع سنوات

٤٠٠،٠٠٠ إيزيدي وقعوا ضحيّة غياب الإرادة السياسية وفشل العودة إلى سنجار منذ اندلاع الإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية المرتكبة من قبل داعش في ٣ أغسطس ٢٠١٤. تَحول التحديات المعقّدة والمزمنة دون الإمكانية لتحقيق مستقبل مستدام للإيزيديين والأقليات الأخرى في العراق وإقليم كردستان.

الإيزيديون يطالبون بإجراءات عاجلة

خلال الذكرى السنوية الثامنة للإبادة الإيزيدية، طالبت يزدا و The Zovighian Partnership باتخاذ إجراءات عاجلة، بحضور عدد من المسؤولين الحكوميين والدبلوماسيين الدوليين ووكالات الإغاثة.

"في حين كنّا نرحّب دوماً بالخطابات والنداءات إلى العمل التي حفّزت العديد من المعنيين للاستجابة لحالات الطوارئ الهائلة التي تواجه سنجار ومجتمعاتها التاريخية، لم يعد يجدي الكلام اليوم. فنحن بحاجة إلى إتخاذ إجراءات عاجلة للغاية،" أشار حيدر الياس، المؤسس المشارك ورئيس منظمة يزدا.

تمّ افتتاح الذكرى بتلاوة مباركة ألقاها سماحة بابا شيخ، عضو المجلس الروحاني الإيزيدي الأعلى، تبعها كلمات من الناجين من الإبادة الإيزيدية وأصدقاء القضية. شهدت الاحتفالات السابقة بالذكرى السنوية للإبادة مؤتمرين أحدهما كان برعاية رئيس جمهورية العراق الدكتور برهم صالح، والآخر برعاية رئيس وزراء العراق مصطفى الكاظمي، وبحضور العديد من الوزراء وأعضاء مجلس النواب، وكذلك سفراء ورؤساء البعثات الدولية في بغداد.

يريد الإيزيديون إعادة بناء مستقبلهم وتحقيق أحلامهم. " لن نتراجع عن الدفاع عن قضيتنا فنحن أبناء الشمس ونؤمن بالإنسانية وبقضية شعبنا،" قالت خولة إسماعيل خديدة، ناجية إيزيدية وعضو في شبكة الناجيات الإيزيديات. وأضافت: "نحتاح إلى دعمكم المستمر لهذا الشعب الذي ليس له أحد وإلى مناصرتكم من أجل الإعتراف بالإبادة الإيزيدية في كل الدول وبمحاسبة عناصر داعش في كل مكان."

وتخلّل إحياء هذه الذكرى عرض أوّلي لأول فيلم وثائقي قصير بقيادة الإيزيديين. تمّ تكليف The Zovighian Partnership به، حيث قامت بتمويله وبالمشاركة في إعداده. هذا الوثاقي من عشر دقائق يسلّط الضوء على أصوات الإيزيديين المتنوّعة من أجل الاعتراف بالأشكال المتواصلة للإبادة الإيزيدية التي تستمّر في تدمير المجتمع.

"تكريماً للذين فقدوا أرواحهم وتعبيراً عن التضامن مع الشعب الإيزيدي العزيز، هذا الوثاقي يهدف بأن يشكّل أحد الأصول العامة لمناصرة القضيّةالإيزيدية،" أعلنت لين زوفيكيان، المشاركة المؤسسة والمديرة الإدارية ل The Zovighian Partnership.

الإيزيديون يشعرون بألم الوعود الفاشلة

لم يتراجع وقع الإبادة الجماعية والجرائم ضد الإنسانية التي ارتكبها تنظيم داعش ضد الإيزيديين والأقليات الأخرى في العراق، بل ما زالت مستمرّة. أكثر من ٢٠٠،٠٠٠ إيزيدي ما زالوا يعيشون في مخيّمات النازحين داخلياً. يقدّر بأنه هناك ١٦٠،٠٠٠ إيزيدي قد هاجروا البلاد والشرق الأوسط. ما زال مصير ٢،٧٦٠ من النساء والأطفال الإيزيديين مجهولاً.

"ما من خريطة طريق وخطط عمل شاملة من أجل إنهاء الإبادة الإيزيدية ومعالجة فترة ما بعد الإبادة"، شرح أحمد خديدة، نائب رئيس منظمة يزدا.

"التقاعس عن العمل جعل القضايا المتعلّقة بالإيزيديين معقّدة وتصعب معالجتها. كان من الممكن حلّ هذه المشكلات في الوقت المناسب بالتنسيق والتعاون بين إقليم كوردستان وجمهورية العراق والمجتمع الدولي،" أضاف خديدة. "المجتمع الدولي فشل في الالتزام بواجباته في حماية الفئات الأكثر ضعفاً، بشكل خاص النساء والأطفال."

"الناجون هم حاضرون لرؤية العدالة تتحقق، لقد كانوا حاضرين من ثماني سنوات إلى يومنا هذا، فما الذي تنتظرونه؟ هناك نتيجة واضحة لكلّ عام نتقاعس فيه عن العمل مفادها: إسكات أصوات الناجين وأنهم سيكونون جاهزين للعمل فقط بعد فوات الأوان،" قالت السيّدة ناتيا نوروسوف، مديرة المرافعة القانونية في منظّمة يزدا.

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا .

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا .

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يزدا هي مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات الدينية والعرقية، بما في ذلك الآشوريون والكلدان والكاكيس والشبك والتركمان واليزيديون في العراق وإقليم كردستان وسوريا. تأسست في عام 2014 في بداية الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبتها داعش ، والمعروفة أيضًا باسم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ضد اليزيديين، فضلاً عن جرائم الحرب والجرائم ضد الإنسانية ضد الأقليات الأخرى، تقود يزدا الدعوة والمشاريع الاستراتيجية في دهوك وسنجار وسهول نينوى ، وكذلك مراكز الشتات العالمية.

السنة الثامنة على الإبادة الجماعيّة الإيزيدية تشهد تراخي دولي

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 11:11:37 GMT

جميع حقوق ملكيّة الصّورة محفوظة © ٢٠٢٢ ل خالد محمد / The Zovighian Partnership

للحصول على البيان الصحفي، إضغط هنا: https://www.newsweek.com/eight-years-yazidi-genocide-led-global-inaction-opinion-1728528

Eight years into the Yazidi Genocide led by global inaction

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 10:58:55 GMT

For press mention, click here: https://www.newsweek.com/eight-years-yazidi-genocide-led-global-inaction-opinion-1728528

الأيزيديون في الخارج.. رحلة البحث عن وطن دون قتل أو فرمانات!

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 08:23:37 GMT

مرت ثماني سنوات على هجرة خلف، لكن كوابيس الثالث من أغسطس ما زالت تلاحقه. يروي سنجاري لـ"ارفع صوتك" تفاصيل ذلك اليوم المشؤوم. حينها كان يسكن في قرية دوكري شمال سنجار: "استيقظت العائلة فزعة على صوت إطلاق نار كثيف. لم يكن هناك أي قوات أمنية لحمايتنا، وجدنا أنفسنا فجأة في مواجهة مسلحي داعش". لحسن حظه تمكن من الفرار مع زوجته وأطفاله الستة باتجاه جبل سنجار.

تصدر محكمة ألمانية إدانة ثانية ضد أحد عناصر داعش بعد استرقاق امرأة إيزيدية وإساءة معاملتها في سوريا.

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 11:36:51 GMT

ناتيا نوروزوف

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

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٢٧ يوليو ، ٢٠٢٢

٢ ٧ يوليو ، ٢٠٢٢

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بيان صحفي من محامية الضحايا أمل كلوني، سونكا مهنر وناتالي فون فيستنجهاوزن، كذلك منظمة يزدا الايزيدية غير الحكومية والحائزة على جائزة نوبل للسلام، نادية مراد.

أدانت المحكمة الإقليمية العليا في هامبورغ عنصر ألماني في صفوف داعش ، "جلدا أ"، اليوم وذلك بتهمة المساعدة والتحريض على الإبادة الجماعية وكذلك بارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب لأستعباد وإساءة معاملة فتاة أيزيدية ، "م". وحُكمت على المتهمة بالسجن خمس سنوات وستة أشهر. تعتبرهذه ثاني إدانة لعنصر داعش بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية والجرائم التي ارتكبت ضد الأقلية الدينية الايزيدية في العراق وسوريا. كانت "م" الشاهدة الرئيسية في القضية وانضمت إلى الإجراءات بصفتها مدعية مشاركة. وتمثلها المحامية البريطانية أمل كلوني والمحاميتان الألمانيتان سونكا مينر وناتالي فون فيستنجهاوزن.

وفقًا للحكم الذي قدمته دائرة المحكمة المكونة من ثلاثة قضاة شفويًا بعد محاكمة دامت 11 يومًا ، فإن المدعى عليها سافرت من ألمانيا إلى سوريا في أبريل 2014، حيث تزوجت من عدد من مقاتلي داعش رفيعي المستوى ، وكان أحدهم يحتجز "م" كمستعبدة للجنس والقيام بالاعمال المنزلية لعدد من الأسابيع في عام 2017.

أختتمت المحكمة على أن المدعى عليها ساعدت وحرضت على محاولة داعش تدمير الاقلية الايزيدية الدينية من خلال أفعالها وأن الجرائم المرتكبة ترقى إلى الإبادة الجماعية. واستنتجت الدائرة أنه من "غير المعقول" أن المدعى عليها لم تكن على علم باضطهاد داعش للأيزيديين بعد أن عاشت في ما يسمى بالدولة الإسلامية لأكثر من ثلاث سنوات وتزوجت من عناصر رفيعي المستوى من داعش. علاوة على ذلك، دعمت المتهمة أيديولوجية داعش ونعت الإيزيديين ب "الكفار القذرين".

وجدت المحكمة أنها سهلت الإساءة الجسدية والجنسية من قبل زوجها بحق "م" من خلال حراسة المرأة ومنعها من الهروب. تعرضت "م" للأغتصاب بحضور المدعى عليها حينما كانت جالسة على الشرفة وكما قامت المدعى عليها بذاتها بالاعتداء الجسدي على "م" في عدة مناسبات وشملت ذلك ثلاث حالات من الإساءة الشديدة بشكل خاص من قبل المدعى عليها مثل جرت "م" من شعرها على الأرض ، وضربت رأسها في جدارالحمام وكذلك ضربتها على وجهها بمصباح كهربائي. كما اجبرت المدعى عليها وزوجها "م" على القيام بالاعمال المنزلية ورعاية ابن المدعى عليها والصلاة وفقاً للشريعة الإسلامية . بالإضافة إلى المساعدة والتحريض على الإبادة الجماعية ، وجد القضاة أيضًا أنها مذنبة بارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية من خلال الاضطهاد والاستعباد والحرمان الشديد من الحرية ؛ والمساعدة والتحريض على الجرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم الحرب.

خلال الإدلاء بإفادتها في المحاكمة، اتخذت "م" موقفاً شجاعاً لأكثر من يومين لاعطاء تفاصيل المحنة التي عانت منها على يد المدعى عليها من خلال مترجم. وصفت المدعى عليها الهجوم على قريتها، اعدام الأولاد الأكبر سناً والنساء ، ونقل الفتيات الصغيرات في شاحنات الماشية إلى الرقة. ذكرت في المحكمة أن مقاتلي داعش كانوا يخلعون ملابس الفتيات ويفتشونهن ويجرون اللواتي يعجبهم من شعرهن ويأخذوهن بعيداً. وكانت المتهمة قد نفت كل المسؤولية وحاول تقويض مصداقية "م" طوال المحاكمة. عند إعلان حكمهم بحضور "م"، وجد قضاة المحاكمة أن "م" تم شراؤها أو بيعها 15 مرة وتعرضت للاغتصاب من قبل 14 ممارسي الاستعباد. وسلط القاضي الضوء على أنه لولا الشهادة الموثوقة من "م" ، لم يكن من الممكن تقديم المدعى عليها إلى العدالة.

بعد صدور الحكم ، قالت "م" "أنا ممتنة للغاية للقضاء الألماني لالتزامه الشديد بتوضيح الجرائم التي ارتكتبت بحق الشعب الإيزيدي وبحقي ، ولمحاكمة أعضاء داعش. أنا مهتمة بالعدالة لشعبي ونفسي، وليس بفرض عقوبة معينة لأن لا توجد عقوبة للمتهمة يمكن أن تبطل المعاناة. بعد إنهاء عقوبتها ستكون المدعى عليها حرة للعيش مع أسرتها، وقد سلب مني هذا الحق إلى الأبد."

وعلقت محامية الضحايا أمل كلوني على الإدانة: "اليوم وصلنا إلى معلم آخر في السعي لتحقيق العدالة. عرضت موكلي حياتها على المحك حتى تعترف المحكمة أن ما حدث لمجتمعها كان إبادة جماعية. واليوم أصبح المعتدي عليها ثاني عنصر في داعش يُدان بهذه الجريمة. أحيي موكلتي لشجاعتها. أشكر السلطات الألمانية على التزامها بمحاكمة مرتكبي جرائم الإبادة الجماعية من داعش. وآمل أن يبدأ الآخرون أخيرًا في اتباع قيادتهم ".

وعلقت نادية مراد ، الحائزة على جائزة نوبل للسلام، والتي نجت من الاستعباد والتعذيب على يد داعش: "انها خطوة مهمة أن تصدر المحاكم الألمانية إدانة إبادة جماعية ثانية. إن العدالة في جرائم الإبادة الجماعية والعنف الجنسي ليست مسألة لمرة واحدة. نحتاج إلى أن نظهر مرارًا وتكرارًا في كل حالة أن الجناة لن يفلتوا من العقاب وأن حقوق الناجين مهمة. أنا ممتنة لـ "م" ، التي جلبت شهادتها القوية جزءً من العدالة لمجتمعنا ونحن نقترب من الذكرى الثامنة للإبادة الجماعية ".

وعلقت سونكا مهنرالتي ترافعت نيابة عن المدعي المشترك، قائلة: "هدف مؤكلتنا من الانضمام كمدعي مشترك ليس إدانة المتهمة بأقصى عقوبة ممكنة وإنما تطالب العدالة لنفسها وللمجتمع الايزيدي. لا توجد عقوبة للمتهمة يمكن أن تلغي أو حتى تخفف المعاناة التي تعرضت لها ".

وأضافت ناتالي فون ويستنجهاوزن : " تثبت هذه الإدانة مرة أخرى أن الولاية القضائية العالمية هي أداة فعالة لمقاضاة أخطر الجرائم الدولية. يمكن للعائدين الذين يُزعم أنهم ارتكبوا مثل هذه الجرائم في الخارج أن يخضعوا للمساءلة ، وسيصبح هذا أكثر فأكثر الواقع الجديد للمحاكم الألمانية لم يكن لهذا ان يتحقق من دون شجاعة ودقة شهادات الناجين مثل موكلتنا."

وأضافت ناتيا نافروزوف ، مديرة المناصرة القانونية في منظمة يزدا الايزيدية العالمية غيرالحكومية، والتي تمثلها أيضًا السيدة كلوني: "تُظهر هذه الإدانة مرة أخرى قوة وأهمية صوت الناجين في المحكمة ، أُدين عنصر ثان في داعش بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية بفضل شهادة أحد الناجين الأيزيديين. لكن إدانتين بالإبادة الجماعية خلال ثماني سنوات ليست كافية على الإطلاق. نأمل أنه بمجرد تشكيل حكومة العراق الجديدة ، سيحذو حذو ألمانيا ويضطلع بدور قيادي في مقاضاة عناصر داعش على الجرائم الدولية ، ويضمن أن تكون أصوات الناجين مركزية في العملية."

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط ه نا .

الخلفية:

تم استهداف المجتمع الأيزيدي في العراق وسوريا من قبل داعش منذ آب عام 2014، من خلال القيام بحملات منظمة للإعدام والاسترقاق والعنف الجنسي والتجنيد القسري للأطفال والنزوح القسري لما يقارب 400,000 أيزيدي من مكان سكناهم في العراق. وتم الإعتراف من قبل الامم المتحدة وسلطات محلية وعالمية ومؤخراً محكمة فرانكفورت الأقليمية العلية بان هذه الجرائم تصل إلى حد الإبادة الجماعية. كان قرار محكمة فرانكفورت الأقليمية العلية بحق " طه أ. ج. " أول إدانة لعنصر من داعش في كل أنحاء العالم لمشاركته في ارتكاب إبادة جماعية. وهذا الحكم بحق "جلدا أ." يأتي ثانياً.

قامت المحاكم الألمانية سابقاً في ست دعوات قضائية بإدانة خمسة عناصر داعش لإرتكابهم جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب لتورطهم في جرائم بحق الأيزيديين. هذه الدعوات ضد " جينيفر و. وسارا و . ونورتين ج. واميمة أ ." اللآتي واجهن محاكمتان منفصلتان. وفي الأونة الأخيرة قامت كل من رومينا س. السيدة كولوني والسيدة فون ويستينك هاوسن و/أو السيدة ميهير بتمثيل الضحايا الأيزيديين في جميع هذه المحاكمات.

في 18/05/2022، تمت إدانة مواطنة ألمانية عائدة من صفوف داعش تدعى ليونورا م. من قبل المحكمة الأقليمية في نومبيرغ لعضويتها في تنظيم ارهابي. تم إالغاء الإجراءات بحق ليونورا م. مثلما تم إلغاءها بحق سارا و. لأنها كانت قاصرة عندما وقعت الأحداث.

الضحية "م." الايزيدية شاركت في أربع دعاوى قضائية كمجمل مشاركاتها ضد سارا و. ونورتن ج. وأميمة أ . وجلدا أ. كشاهدة رئيسية ومقدمة للدعوى. قبل أن يتم أسر "م." من قبل جلدا أ.، كانت قد تم أسرها واسترقاقها من قبل سارا و. التي كانت مشاركة في استرقاق ست نساء أيزيديات أخريات. وقد تم إعارتها خلال تلك الفترة إلى صديقات سارا و. الألمانيتان، نورتن ج. و أميمة أ.

ألقت القبض على المدعى عليها، "جلدة أ" من قبل القوات الكردية أواخر عام 2017 أثناء محاولتها مغادرة سوريا. تم اعتقالها في مخيم روج شمال سوريا حتى إعادتها إلى ألمانيا في أكتوبر 2021. تم القبض عليها فور وصولها ووجهت لها لائحة اتهام في أبريل 2022 وزوج المدعى عليها محتجز من قبل قوات سوريا الديمقراطية.

ملاحظة للمحررين:

بموجب القانون الألماني، يحق لضحايا الجرائم الجسيمة المشاركة في الإجراءات الجنائية بصفتهم "مدعين مشاركين" جنبًا إلى جنب مع الادعاء والدفاع. الضحية جزء من برنامج حماية الشهود ولا يمكن الكشف عن هويتها من أجل سلامتها. ولذلك يشار إليها بالحرف "م" في هذا البيان.

عادة لا يسمح القانون الألماني أيضًا بالكشف عن ألقاب المتهمين الكاملة .

German court hands down second genocide conviction against ISIS member following enslavement and abuse of Yazidi woman in Syria

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 07:34:35 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

July 27, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Natia Navrouzov

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Press statement by victim’s counsel Amal Clooney, Sonka Mehner and Natalie von Wistinghausen, Yazidi NGO Yazda and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad.

Today, the Higher Regional Court of Hamburg convicted German ISIS member Jalda A. of aiding and abetting genocide as well as of crimes against humanity and war crimes for the enslavement and abuse of a young Yazidi woman, “M”. The defendant was sentenced to five years and six months in prison. This represents the second conviction of an ISIS member for genocide for atrocities perpetrated against the Yazidi religious minority in Iraq and Syria. M was the key witness in the case and joined the proceedings as a co-plaintiff. She is represented by British barrister Amal Clooney and German lawyers Sonka Mehner and Natalie von Wistinghausen.

According to the judgement, which the trial chamber of 3 judges presented orally after an 11-day trial, the defendant travelled from Germany to Syria in April 2014. There she married several high-ranking ISIS fighters, one of whom held M captive as a sex and household slave for a number of weeks in 2017.

The trial chamber concluded that through her actions, the defendant aided and abetted ISIS’ attempt to destroy the Yazidi religious group and that the crimes committed amounted to genocide. The Chamber reasoned that it was ‘unthinkable’ that the defendant was not aware of ISIS’ persecution of the Yazidis after having lived in the so-called Islamic State for more than three years and being married to high-ranking ISIS members. Moreover, the accused herself supported ISIS’ ideology and spoke of the Yazidi as ‘dirty infidels’.

The court found that she facilitated her husband’s physical and sexual abuse of M by guarding the woman and preventing her from fleeing. M was raped in the presence of the defendant while she sat on the balcony. The defendant also herself physically abused M on several occasions. This included three instances of particularly severe abuse by the defendant, who dragged M across the floor by her hair, hit her head against the bathroom wall and hit her in the face with a torch. The defendant and her husband also forced M to undertake chores, take care of the defendant’s son and pray according to Islamic rules. In addition to aiding and abetting genocide, the judges also found her guilty of crimes against humanity committed through persecution, enslavement and severe deprivation of liberty; and of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity and war crimes.

During her testimony at trial, M bravely took the stand over 2 days to detail – through an interpreter – the ordeal that she suffered at the hands of the defendant. She described the attack on her village, the executions of older boys and women, and the transport of younger girls in cattle trucks to Raqqa. She told the court that ISIS fighters would undress and inspect the girls and tug the ones they liked by their hair and take them away.

The accused had denied all responsibility and tried to undermine M's credibility throughout the trial.

In announcing their judgement in M’s presence, the trial judges found that M was bought or sold 15 times and raped by 14 ‘slave owners’. The judge highlighted that without M’s credible testimony the defendant could not have been brought to justice.

Following the judgement, M stated: ‘I am very grateful to the German judiciary for being so committed to clarifying the crimes that have befallen the Yazidi people and myself, and for putting the members of ISIS on trial. I am concerned with justice for my people and myself, not with the imposition of a particular punishment. There is no punishment for the accused that could undo the suffering. At the end of her sentence, the defendant will be free to live with her family. That has been taken away from me forever.’

Victim’s counsel Amal Clooney commented on the conviction: ‘Today we have reached another milestone in the pursuit of justice. My client put her life on the line so that a court would recognise that what happened to her community was genocide. And today her abuser became the second ISIS member to be convicted of this crime. I salute my client for her bravery. I thank the German authorities for their commitment to prosecuting the ISIS genocide. And I hope that others will finally start to follow their lead.’

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad , who herself is a survivor of enslavement and torture at the hands of ISIS, commented: ‘It is very meaningful that German courts have delivered a second genocide conviction. Justice for genocide and sexual violence is not a one-time deal. We need to show over and over in every case that perpetrators will not receive impunity and that survivors’ rights matter. I am grateful to M, whose powerful testimony brought a piece of justice for our community as we near the genocide’s 8th anniversary.’

Sonka Mehner , who pleaded on behalf of the joint plaintiff, commented: ‘Our client´s goal in joining as a joint plaintiff is not to bring the defendant to the highest possible punishment. She wants justice for herself and the Yazidi community. There is no punishment for the defendant that could undo or even alleviate the suffering that happened to her.’

Natalie von Wistinghausen added: ‘This conviction demonstrates again that universal jurisdiction is an effective tool to prosecute the most serious international crimes. Returnees who allegedly committed such crimes abroad can and will be held accountable, this is more and more becoming the new reality of German courts and would never be possible without the brave and detailed testimony of survivors like our client.’

Natia Navrouzov , Legal Advocacy Director at the global Yazidi NGO Yazda, which is also represented by Ms. Clooney, added: ‘This conviction shows again the power and importance of the voice of survivors in a court of law. Thanks to the testimony of a Yazidi survivor, a second ISIS member is convicted for genocide. But two genocide convictions in eight years is far from enough. We hope that once its new government is in place, Iraq will follow Germany’s example and take on a leading role in prosecuting ISIS members for international crimes, ensuring that those same voices of survivors are central to the process.’

Download press release h ere .

For the arabic version, click here .

Background

From August 2014, the Yazidi community in Iraq and Syria was targeted by ISIS through an organised campaign of executions, enslavement, sexual violence, and forced recruitment of child soldiers, as well as the forced displacement of an estimated 400,000 Yazidis from their homeland in Iraq. These crimes have been recognised by the United Nations , national and international bodies and, more recently, the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt as amounting to genocide. The Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt’s decision (against Taha A.-J. ) was the first conviction of an ISIS member for genocide anywhere in the world. This judgement against Jalda A. is the second.

German courts have previously also convicted 5 other ISIS members of crimes against humanity and war crimes for their involvement in ISIS’ crimes against the Yazidis in 6 cases. These are the cases against Jennifer W. , Sarah O. , Nurten J. , Omaima A. (who faced two separate trials) and most recently Romiena S. Ms. Clooney, Ms. von Wistinghausen and/or Ms. Mehner represented the Yazidi victims in all of these cases.

On 18 May 2022, Leonora M, another German ISIS returnee, was convicted by the Higher Regional Court of Naumburg of membership in a terrorist organisation. The proceedings against Leonora M. – like that against Sarah O. – were closed to the public as she was a minor when the events took place.

The victim, M, is a Yazidi and she participated in four proceedings in total, against Sarah O. , Nurten J. , Omaima A. and Jalda A., as a key witness and co-plaintiff. Before M was held by Jalda A., she was held captive and abused by Sarah O. who was involved in the enslavement of six other Yazidi women. During this period, she was also ‘lent’ to Sarah O.’s German friends, Nurten J. and Omaima A.

The defendant, Jalda A., was captured by Kurdish forces in late 2017 as she attempted to leave Syria. She was detained at the Roj camp in northern Syria until she was repatriated to Germany in October 2021. She was arrested upon her arrival and indicted in April 2022. The defendant’s husband is reportedly detained by the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Note to editors:

Under German law, victims of grave crimes have the right to participate in criminal proceedings as ‘co-plaintiffs’ alongside the prosecution and defence. The victim is part of a witness protection program and for her safety, her identity cannot be revealed. She is therefore referred to as ‘M’ in this statement.

German law normally also does not permit disclosure of defendants’ full surnames.

يرحب الناجون الايزيديون ويزدا ببدء أنشطة التنقيب في قرية قني، سنجار

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 08:47:49 GMT

صورة جويّة لأحد مواقع المقابر الجماعيّة في قرية قني، سنجار، بواسطة فريق يزدا للتوثيق

Jameel Chomer

+964 750 704 3819

iq.country.director@yazda.org

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٢٧ يونيو ٢٠٢٢

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

أنشطة التنقيب في قرية قني، سنجار
ستبدأ مؤسسة الشهداء التي هي الجهة العراقية المسؤولة عن عمليات التنقيب وتحديد هويات الضحايا غداً بالتعاون مع يونيتاد، فريق التحقيق التابع للأمم المتحدة لمحاسبة
داعش، بتنقيب المقابر الجماعية في قرية قني على الجانب الجنوبي من جبل سنجار.

تم تنقيب حوالي 30 مقبرة جماعية في سنجار حتى الآن، وتحديداً في قرى كوجو و صولاغ و حردان . ويقدر أن 60 موقعًا لا يزال بحاجة الى التنقيب من ضمنها في قرية قني.

تقع قرية قني على الجانب الجنوبي من جبل سنجار وكانت هناك حوالي 15 عائلة تعيش هناك قبل هجمات داعش وفقًا للإحصائيات التي حصلت عليها يزدا من سكانها. أسر تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام الأيزيديين الذين كانوا يفرون باتجاه جبل سنجار في قرية قني وضواحيها في الثالث من آب عام 2014. قاموا بفصل النساء والأطفال عن الرجال ونقلوا الرجال إلى واد بالقرب من القرية حيث تم إعدامهم بوحشية وإلقائهم في اربع مقابر جماعية وموقعين للقتل، وكلها موثقة من قبل يزدا. قُتل أو خُطف حوالي 400 شخص في قرية قني من بينهم سكان قريتي تل البنات وتل القصب. وهناك حوالي 50 رجلاً مسناً بين الضحايا.

ستقام مراسيم من قبل العوائل وبدعم من منظمات المجتمع المدني وبحضور أبناء المجتمع الأيزيدي ومسؤولين عراقيين ودوليين بمناسبة بدء عمليات التنقيب. ستتم ممارسة طقوس دينية أيزيدية تكريماً للضحايا قبل نقل الرفات إلى قاعة الموتى في بغداد لأغراض تحديد الهوية وستتم إعادة الرفات إلى العوائل من أجل مراسيم الدفن الكريمة بعد تحديد هوياتهم.

ستتواجد فرق يزدا لدعم المجتمع الإيزيدي من خلال توفير خدمات الصحة النفسية والطبية في الموقع خلال هذا الوقت العصيب . كما ستقوم فرق يزدا بالإجابة على أسئلة العوائل وإحالتها إلى مؤسسة الشهداء ويونيتاد كلما دعت الحاجة.

علقت أعضاء شبكة الناجيات الإيزيديات، وهي مجموعة من الناجيات الإيزيديات والمدافعات عن حقوق الإنسان:

"في كل مرة يتم فيها تنقيب قبر، يعيدنا ذلك إلى ألم الإبادة الجماعية. نتمنى أن تجري هذه العملية بشكل أسرع حتى تتمكن عوائل الضحايا من إيجاد بعض السلام.

قرية قني هي مثال آخر لما حدث لنا، سكانها يستحقون الرعاية والدعم من السلطات في هذا الوقت العصيب."

وأضاف جميل جومر، المدير القطري لمنظمة يزدا في العراق:

"نتقدم بخالص تعازينا ومواساتنا للعوائل التي فقدت أحبائها في قرية قني. تعكس الجرائم التي وقعت في قرية قني فكر داعش المتطرف الذي يجب على المجتمع الدولي محاربته من خلال محاكمة المجرمين".

تتقدم يزدا بأحر التعازي لعوائل الضحايا الذين قتلوا في قرية قني.

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هن ا.

###

Yazidi survivors and Yazda welcome the start of exhumation activities in Qiney, Sinjar

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 08:26:09 GMT

Drone shot of a mass grave and kill site in Qiney village, Sinja, by Yazda documentation team

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

June 27, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Jameel Chomer

+964 750 704 3819

iq.country.director@yazda.org

Tomorrow, the Martyrs Foundation, the Iraqi authority in charge of the processes of exhumation and identification of victims, in cooperation with the UN Investigative Team for Accountability of Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD), will begin the exhumation of mass graves in the village of Qiney, on the

South side of Sinjar Mountain.

So far, around 30 mass graves were exhumed in Sinjar, specifically in the villages of Kocho , Solagh and Hardan . An estimated 60 sites still need to be exhumed, including in Qiney village.

Qiney is on the south side of Sinjar Mountain and according to the statistics obtained by Yazda from its inhabitants, around 15 families were living there before ISIL attacks. On 3 of August 2014, ISIL captured in and around Qiney village, Yazidis who were fleeing towards Sinjar Mountain. Women and children were separated from men and the later were taken towards a valley near the village where they were brutally executed and dumped in 4 mass graves and 2 kill sites, all documented by Yazda. In total, around 400 people were either killed or kidnapped in Qiney, including people from the villages of Tel Banat and Tel Qasab. Among the victims are around 50 elderly men.

To mark the start of the exhumations, a ceremony organized by the families, with the support of civil society organizations, will take place in the presence of the Yazidi community members and Iraqi and international officials. Yazidi religious rituals will be performed in honor of the victims before remains are taken to the mortuary in Baghdad for identification purposes. After identification, the remains will be returned to the families for dignified burial ceremonies.

Yazda teams will be present to support the Yazidi community in this difficult moment by providing medical and mental health services on site. Yazda teams will also answer questions of the families and refer them to the Martyrs Foundation and to UNITAD whenever needed.

Members of the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN), a group of Yazidi survivors and Human Rights Advocates, commented:

“Every time a grave is exhumed, it takes us back to the pain of the genocide. We wish this process could be faster so that families of the victims can find some peace. Qiney is another symbol of what has happened to us, its people deserve care and support from the authorities in this difficult time.”

Yazda’s Country Director in Iraq, Jameel Chomer added:

“Our deepest condolences and sympathy to the families which lost their beloved ones in Qiney. Qiney atrocities is a reflection of the extremist ideology of ISIL which the international community should combat by holding the perpetrators to justice.”

Yazda extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims who perished in Qiney village.

Download press release here .
For an Arabic version of this press release, click here .

Paris Court of Appeal confirms charges against French multinational Lafarge for complicity in crimes against humanity committed by ISIS

Mon, 23 May 2022 14:36:43 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

May 23, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Natia Navrouzov

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Paris, France – On 18 May 2022, the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the indictment of the French multinational cement company LafargeHolcim SA (‘Lafarge’) for complicity in crimes against humanity committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (‘ISIS’) and other armed groups in Syria. This case represents the first time a French multinational corporation has been charged with complicity in crimes against humanity.

Four years ago, Lafarge and several of its former executives and employees were charged with complicity in crimes against humanity and financing of a terrorist organisation. According to the indictments, Lafarge -- principally through its subsidiary which operated a cement plant in Syria -- made multimillion-dollar payments to ISIS and other armed groups and traded raw materials with them during the civil war which tore through the country.

Lafarge challenged the indictments, arguing that neither the French parent company nor its executives could be held accountable for acts of the subsidiary in Syria and that the funds were not paid with the intention to support ISIS’ crimes but to pursue a commercial activity. The Paris Court of Appeal originally accepted this argument and dismissed the charges of complicity in crimes against humanity in November 2019 (while upholding the charges of financing of terrorism). The Yazidi victims participating in the case as civil parties as well as other civil parties challenged this judgment.

In a landmark ruling on 7 September 2021, the French Supreme Court cleared the way for a criminal trial by quashing the annulment of the charges of crimes against humanity and confirming the charges of endangering the lives of employees’ and financing of terrorism. The Supreme Court held that the investigating judges had sufficient serious and corroborating evidence, including minutes of Lafarge’s weekly meetings, showing that Lafarge had provided support to ISIS while having ‘precise knowledge’ of the criminal nature of this terrorist group’s activities which were ‘likely to constitute crimes against humanity’. The Supreme Court also found that ‘knowingly paying several million dollars to an organisation whose purpose was exclusively criminal suffices to constitute complicity’ of the crimes committed by the criminal organisation regardless of whether the accomplice was pursuing a commercial activity.

The Supreme Court referred the matter back to the Court of Appeal so that it could re-assess the facts and charges on this basis.

On 18 May 2022, the Court of Appeal confirmed the indictments of Lafarge for complicity in crimes against humanity and endangering the lives of its employees in Syria. (It had previously confirmed the charge of financing terrorism.)

In its analysis, the Court highlighted that ISIS had committed crimes against humanity in Syria including that it “has denied the right of the Yazidi to exist and justified their destruction according to a concerted plan” . After reviewing the evidence, the Court concluded that Lafarge, which owns 98.67% of its Syrian subsidiary LCS, not only bought raw materials from ISIS but also made monthly payments amounting to a total of “15.5 million US dollars” to local armed groups which included ISIS.

The judges stated that “although informed that the actions of ISIS could constitute crimes against humanity, Lafarge, which could have put an end to the activities of LCS by asking it to close the plant, decided instead to continue this activity … even if it meant paying several million dollars to its groups”.

As such the Paris Court of Appeal considered that “there is serious and corroborating evidence of [Lafarge’s] participation as an accomplice in these crimes against humanity” because by financing ISIS, the company had in effect assisted and facilitated the group’s crimes. As a result, the investigating judges can pursue their investigations of Lafarge’s alleged complicity in ISIS’ crimes against humanity as well as the other charges.

Natia Navrouzov , Legal Advocacy Director at global Yazidi NGO Yazda, commented on the judgment that:

“This decision of the Court of Appeal shows again that ISIS is not only about a group of individuals who joined a terrorist group and committed the most heinous crimes. It is also about a whole system that enabled these crimes and that needs to be held accountable for to ensure that there is no impunity gap for international crimes.”

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad , who is a survivor of enslavement and torture at the hands of ISIS, commented that:

“No one - terrorists, governments, or corporations - should receive impunity for enabling genocide and sexual violence. France's courts are now in agreement that Lafarge and its executives could stand trial for complicity in crimes against humanity. We need to see justice through and continue working through the courts to hold perpetrators accountable and make reparations available to survivors”.

British barrister and victims’ counsel, Amal Clooney , who also represents Yazda, commented that:

“This is another landmark ruling by the French courts showing that nobody is above the law and that all those who are complicit in crimes against humanity can and should be held to account”.

Rachel Lindon and Luke Vidal , French counsel for the Yazidi victims and Yazda commented that:

“By accepting the criteria of the French Supreme Court for an indictment for complicity in crimes against humanity and, thus departing from the position it held in 2019, the Paris Court of appeal confirms the advancement in terms of accountability for international crimes that was initiated by the French judicial bodies. Since the 7 ^th of September, 2021, French jurisprudence is now clear: one shall be held accountable as an accomplice to an international crime if it materially or financially supports an entity or a person which it knows has committed or is committing such crimes, notwithstanding if it did not participate in such crimes or if that support was not indispensable to the infringement.”

Nicolas Angelet and Pascal Beauvais , Professors of law and victims’ counsel added:

“The Paris Court of Appeal judgment is a major step towards responsibility of parent companies for human rights violations by their subsidiaries. This is key to effective corporate responsibility”.

Download press release he re .
For an Arabic version of this press release, please click here .

For an French version of this press release, please click here .

Note to editors:

The survivors participating in the case as civil parties are members of the Yazidi religious minority targeted by ISIS as part of a genocidal campaign in Iraq and Syria. These victims are represented by Luke Vidal and Lefa Mondon of Sygna Partners, Amal Clooney and Nicolas Angelet of Doughty Street Chambers, Rachel Lindon and Mathilde Aublé of Lindon & Rohan Chabot and Professor Pascal Beauvais (Sorbonne Law School, Panthéon - Sorbonne University).

Yazda is a global Yazidi NGO that has been supporting survivors and documenting crimes committed by ISIS for more than seven years. Yazda has helped to identify, locate and support victims in criminal proceedings in multiple jurisdictions around the world.

According to article 121-2 of the French Criminal Code legal persons may be held liable for criminal offenses committed on their behalf by any of their representatives or organs.

At this stage of the proceedings, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal has not found Lafarge SA guilty of the charged crimes but assessed whether according to article 80-1 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure there is “serious or corroborating evidence” showing that Lafarge may have been involved in the commission of the indicted offences, including complicity in crimes against humanity, financing of terrorism, and deliberately endangering the lives of others (Lafarge’s Syrian employees).

محكمة استئناف باريس تؤكد التهم الموجهة إلى شركة لافارج الفرنسية متعددة الجنسيات بتهمة التواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية ارتكبها تنظيم داعش.

Mon, 23 May 2022 14:36:40 GMT

ناتيا نوروزوف

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

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باريس ، فرنسا - في ال18 من أيار 2022 ، أكدت محكمة الاستئناف في باريس لائحة الاتهام الموجهة إلى شركة الأسمنت الفرنسية متعددة الجنسياتLafargeHolcim SA ('Lafarge') بتهمة التواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية ارتكبتها الدولة الإسلامية في العراق وسوريا ('داعش') وغيرها من الجماعات المسلحة في سوريا. تمثل هذه القضية المرة الأولى التي تتهم فيها شركة فرنسية متعددة الجنسيات بالتواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية

قبل أربع سنوات ، اتُهمت لافارج والعديد من مسؤوليها التنفيذيين وموظفيها السابقين بالتواطؤ في أرتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية وتمويل منظمة إرهابية. وفقًا للوائح الاتهام ، قامت لافارج - بشكل أساسي من خلال فرعها الذي كان مصنعًا للأسمنت في سوريا - بدفع ملايين الدولارات لداعش والجماعات المسلحة الأخرى وتداولت المواد الخام معهم خلال الحرب الأهلية التي جرت في جميع انحاء البلاد.

طعنت لافارج في لوائح الاتهام بحجة أنه لا يمكن تحميل الفرع الرئيسي للشركة الفرنسية أو مديريها التنفيذيين المسؤولية عن أفعال الشركة التابعة في سوريا وأن الأموال لم يتم دفعها بنية دعم جرائم داعش ولكن لمتابعة نشاط تجاري. قبلت محكمة الاستئناف في باريس هذه الحجة في الأصل ورفضت تهم التواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية في نوفمبر 2019 (مع تأييدها لاتهامات تمويل الإرهاب). طعن الضحايا الأيزيديون المشاركون في القضية كأطراف مدنية بالإضافة إلى أطراف مدنية أخرى في هذا الحكم.

في حكم تاريخي صُدر في 7 سبتمبر 2021 ، مهدت المحكمة الفرنسية العليا الطريق أمام محاكمة جنائية من خلال إلغاء التهم المتعلقة بارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية وتأكيد تهم تعريض حياة الموظفين للخطر وتمويل الإرهاب. قضت المحكمة العليا بأن قضاة التحقيق لديهم أدلة جدية و كافية ، بما في ذلك اجتماعات لافارج الأسبوعية ، والتي تُظهر أن لافارج قدمت الدعم لداعش في حين أن لديها "معرفة دقيقة '' بالطبيعة الإجرامية لأنشطة هذه المجموعة الإرهابية التي من المرجح أن تعتبر جرائم ضد الإنسانية. كما وجدت المحكمة العليا أن "دفع عدة ملايين من الدولارات عن قصد إلى منظمة كان هدفها إجراميًا حصريًا يكفي لأعتبارها تواطؤ في الجرائم التي ارتكبتها المنظمة الإجرامية بغض النظر عما إذا كان الشريك يمارس نشاطًا تجاريًا ام لا. أحالت المحكمة العليا القضية مرة أخرى إلى محكمة الاستئناف حتى تتمكن من إعادة تقييم الوقائع والتهم على هذا الأساس

في ال18 من أيار 2022 ، أكدت محكمة الاستئناف لوائح الاتهام الصادرة عن شركة لافارج بتهمة التواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية وتعريض حياة موظفيها في سوريا للخطر. (سبق أن أكدت اتهامها بتمويل الإرهاب).

وسلطت المحكمة الضوء في تحليلها على أن داعش ارتكب جرائم ضد الإنسانية في سوريا بما في ذلك أنه "أنكر حق الإيزيديين في الوجود وبرر تدميرهم وفق خطة متفق عليها". بعد مراجعة الأدلة ، استنتجت المحكمة أن شركة لافارج ، التي تمتلك 98.67٪ من شركة LCS السورية التابعة لها ، لم تقتصر على شراء المواد الخام من داعش فحسب ، بل قامت أيضًا بدفع مدفوعات شهرية تصل إلى إجمالي "15.5 مليون دولار أمريكي" للجماعات المسلحة المحلية و من ضمنها داعش.

ذكر القضاة أنه "على الرغم من علمهم بأن أفعال داعش يمكن أن تشكل جرائم ضد الإنسانية ، فإن لافارج ، التي كانت من الممكن أن تضع حداً لأنشطة الفروع التابعة لشركتها من خلال مطالبتها بإغلاق المصنع ، و لكن قررت بدلاً من ذلك مواصلة هذا النشاط ... حتى لو كان ذلك يعني دفع عدة ملايين من الدولارات لمجموعاتها."

على هذا النحو ، اعتبرت محكمة الاستئناف في باريس أن "هناك أدلة جدية وداعمة على مشاركة [لافارج] كشريك في هذه الجرائم ضد الإنسانية" لأنها من خلال تمويل داعش ، ساعدت الشركة في الواقع وسهلت جرائم الجماعات. نتيجة لذلك ، يمكن لقضاة التحقيق متابعة تحقيقاتهم في قضية تواطؤ لافارج المزعوم في جرائم داعش ضد الإنسانية بالإضافة إلى التهم الأخرى.

علقت ناتيا نافروزوف ، مديرة المناصرة القانونية في المنظمة الايزيدية العالمية غيرالحكومية، يزدا, على الحكم:

"ويظهر قرار محكمة الاستئناف مرة أخرى أن داعش لا يتعلق فقط بمجموعة من الأفراد انضموا إلى جماعة إرهابية وارتكبوا أبشع الجرائم. إنه يتعلق أيضًا بنظام كامل مكّن من ارتكاب هذه الجرائم ويجب محاسبته لضمان عدم وجود فجوة للإفلات من العقاب على الجرائم الدولية

وعلقت نادية مراد ، الحائزة على جائزة نوبل للسلام ، والتي نجت من الاستعباد والتعذيب على يد داعش ، بما يلي:

"لا ينبغي لأحد - الإرهابيين أو الحكومات أو الشركات - أن يفلت من العقاب لتمكينه من الإبادة الجماعية والعنف الجنسي. تتفق المحاكم الفرنسية الآن على إمكانية محاكمة لافارج ومديريها التنفيذيين بتهمة التواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية. نحن بحاجة لرؤية العدالة و مواصلة العمل من خلال المحاكم لمحاسبة الجناة وجعل التعويضات متاحة للناجين ".

علقت المحامية البريطانية للضحايا ، أمل كلوني ، التي تمثل يزدا أيضًا:

"هذا حكم تاريخي آخر أصدرته المحاكم الفرنسية يُظهرأنه لا يوجد أحد فوق القانون وأن كل المتواطئين في جرائم ضد الإنسانية يمكن وينبغي محاسبتهم".

راشيل ليندون ولوك فيدال ، المحاميان الفرنسيان لضحايا الإيزيديين و يزدا علقا:

"بقبولها معايير المحكمة العليا الفرنسية لإصدار لائحة اتهام بالتواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية ، وبالتالي الخروج عن الموقف الذي اتخذته في عام 2019 ، تؤكد محكمة الاستئناف في باريس التقدم في مجال المساءلة عن الجرائم الدولية التي بدأها الهيئات القضائية الفرنسية. منذ السابع من سبتمبر 2021 ، أصبح الفقه القانوني الفرنسي واضحًا الآن: يجب محاسبة الشخص كشريك في جريمة دولية إذا كان يدعم ماديًا أو ماليًا كيانًا أو شخصًا يعرف أنه ارتكب أو يرتكب مثل هذه الجرائم ، بغض

النظر عما إذا لم تشارك في مثل هذه الجرائم أو إذا لم يكن هذا الدعم ضروريًا للانتهاك."

وأضاف نيكولاس أنجليت وباسكال بوفيه ، أساتذة القانون ومحامي الضحايا:

"يعتبر حكم محكمة الاستئناف في باريس خطوة كبيرة نحو مسؤولية الشركات الأم عن انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان من قبل الشركات التابعة لها. هذا هو مفتاح المسؤولية المؤسسية الفعالة ".

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا .

للنسخة الفرنسية، اضغط هنا.

ملاحظة للمحررين:

الناجون المشاركون في القضية كأطراف مدنية هم أعضاء من الأقلية الدينية الأيزيدية التي استهدفتها داعش كجزء من حملة إبادة جماعية في العراق وسوريا. ويمثل هؤلاء الضحايا لوك فيدال وليفا موندون من شركة سيجنا بارتنرز وأمل كلوني ونيكولاس أنجليت من دوتي ستريت تشامبرز وراشيل ليندون وماتيلد أوبليه من ليندون وروهان شابوت والبروفيسور باسكال بوفيز (كلية السوربون للحقوق ، بانثيون - جامعة السوربون).

يزدا هي منظمة أيزدية عالمية غير حكومية تدعم الناجين وتوثق الجرائم التي ارتكبها داعش منذ أكثر من سبع سنوات. ساعدت يزدا في التعرف على الضحايا وتحديد مكانهم ودعمهم في الإجراءات الجنائية في ولايات قضائية متعددة حول العالم.

وفقًا للمادة 121-2 من القانون الجنائي الفرنسي ، يمكن تحميل الأشخاص الاعتباريين المسؤولية عن الجرائم التي يرتكبها نيابة عنهم أي من ممثليهم أو أجهزتهم.

في هذه المرحلة من الإجراءات ، لم تجد المحكمة العليا ومحكمة الاستئناف شركة لافارج س،أ مذنبة بارتكاب الجرائم الموجهة إليها ، لكنهما قيمتا ما إذا كان وفقًا للمادة 80-1 من قانون الإجراءات الجنائية الفرنسي ، هناك "أدلة جادة أو داعمة" تظهر أن لافارج ربما تورطت في إرتكاب الجرائم الموجهة إليها ، بما في ذلك التواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية ، وتمويل الإرهاب ، وتعريض حياة الآخرين عمداً للخطر (موظفو لافارج السوريين).

German ISIS returnee on trial for crimes against humanity and aiding and abetting genocide over abuse of an enslaved Yazidi woman in Syria

Fri, 20 May 2022 10:07:34 GMT

Date:

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Last updated:

May 20, 2022

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Natia Navrouzov

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Press statement by victim’s counsel Amal Clooney, Sonka Mehner and Natalie von Wistinghausen, Yazidi NGO Yazda and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad.

Yesterday, a criminal trial began before the Higher Regional Court of Hamburg against German ISIS returnee Jalda A. over her alleged abuse of a Yazidi woman who was enslaved at her home in Syria. The 35-year-old German woman has been charged with aiding and abetting genocide as well as with war crimes and crimes against humanity, including torture, enslavement, religious and gender-based persecution and aiding and abetting rape.

According to the Federal Public Prosecutor General, the defendant travelled from Germany to Syria in April 2014, where she married an ISIS fighter. After her first husband died, she married a second and later a third high-ranking ISIS fighter. From September to October 2017, the defendant lived with her third husband in and around the Syrian city of Mayadin.

According to the indictment:

The defendant’s husband held a Yazidi woman, M., as a slave and regularly raped her.
The defendant facilitated this and she herself physically abused the Yazidi woman. Almost daily, she mistreated M. including by kicking her, slamming her head against the wall and pulling her hair.
The defendant also subjected M. to forced labour and forced her to pray according to Islamic rules.
Through her actions, she aimed at the destruction of the Yazidi religion.

The defendant was captured by Kurdish forces in late 2017 as she attempted to leave Syria. She was detained at the Roj camp in northern Syria until she was repatriated to Germany in October 2021. Upon her arrival, she was arrested and indicted in April 2022.

M. joined the proceedings against Jalda A. as a co-plaintiff and is represented by British barrister Amal Clooney and German lawyers Sonka Mehner and Natalie von Wistinghausen. She is expected to testify in the coming weeks. She previously testified during the trials in Germany against other ISIS members who abused her including Sarah O. , Nurten J. and Omaima A .

Victim’s counsel Amal Clooney commented on the trial: ‘It is an honour to represent my brave client in another case in which she is taking on her abusers and testifying in court about what ISIS did to her and other Yazidi victims. The German courts have confirmed that the crimes committed by ISIS amount to genocide and they are showing the world that ISIS members can, and should, be put on trial for this crime’.

Sonka Mehner commented: ‘This trial is another important step in an ongoing process to ensure that our client receives justice for the egregious crimes committed against her. We will continue to seek to obtain justice for our client and to ensure that the rights to which she is entitled under German law are recognized and protected’.

Natalie von Wistinghausen added: ‘Through her testimony in several trials, our client is one of the key witnesses contributing to finding the truth about the involvement of German nationals in the crimes committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community, including the crime of genocide. Without brave survivors like her and others, accountability could not be achieved’.

Natia Navrouzov , Legal Advocacy Director at the global Yazidi NGO Yazda, which is also represented by Ms. Clooney, added: ‘With this new trial, Germany continues to show its commitment to prosecute crimes committed against Yazidis. We commend the German prosecutors' perseverance and wish more states would follow their example. We are approaching the 8th anniversary of the commemoration of the Yazidi genocide and many survivors still hope to see their day in court, especially in their own country Iraq. Trials cannot only take place thousands of kilometres away, they also need to happen closer to the survivors so that there is a sense of safety and 'home' again’.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad , who herself is a survivor of enslavement and torture at the hands of ISIS, commented: ‘Each and every case brought against ISIS members for genocide and sexual violence strengthens accountability for mass atrocities. The fact that M. has testified at not one but three trials, shows immense courage as well as the gravity and extent of these crimes. Other courts should follow Germany’s lead to provide justice for survivors and discourage future violence’.

Download press release he re .

For the Arabic version, click here .

Background

The victim is a member of the Yazidi religious minority and this is the eighth case in Germany involving the prosecution of a member of ISIS for crimes committed against this group.

German courts have convicted ISIS members of (aiding and abetting) crimes against humanity and war crimes for their involvement in ISIS’ crimes committed against the Yazidis in six previous cases in Germany in which Ms. Clooney and Ms. von Wistinghausen represented Yazidi victims (see cases against Taha A.-J. , Jennifer W. , Sarah O. , Nurten J. , Omaima A. ).

In a separate case in which counsel was not involved, on 18 May 2022, Leonora M, another German ISIS returnee, was convicted by the Higher Regional Court of Naumburg of membership in a terrorist organisation but acquitted of aiding and abetting a crime against humanity for her alleged involvement in the enslavement of a Yazidi woman. The proceedings against Leonora M. were closed to the public as she was a minor when the events took place.

The victim in this case, M., participated in three previous proceedings (against Sarah O. , Nurten J. , Omaima A. ) as a co-plaintiff. Before M. was held by Jalda A., she was held captive and abused by Sarah O. who was involved in the enslavement of six other Yazidi women. During this period, she was also ‘lent’ to Sarah O.’s German friends Nurten J. and Omaima A. She testified during the trial against Nurten J. that she was sold, given away or traded for other ‘slaves’ 14 times during her time in captivity and raped by twelve of her ‘owners’.

The defendant’s husband is the brother-in-law of a German ISIS returnee Sarah O., who was convicted of crimes against humanity in a trial before the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf last year. He is reportedly detained by the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Note to editors:

German law normally also does not permit disclosure of defendants’ full surnames.

محاكمة عنصر داعش ألماني عائد لإرتكابه جرائم ضد الإنسانية والمساعدة والتحريض على جرائم الإبادة وإساءة معاملة إمرأة أيزيدية تحت الإستعباد في سوريا.

Fri, 20 May 2022 10:07:14 GMT

ناتيا نوروزوف

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٢٠ أيار ، ٢٠٢٢

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

االبيان الصحفي لمحاميات الضحية، أمل كلوني، سونكا ميهنر، وناتالي فون ويسنهاوسن، المنظمة الأيزيدية يزدا والحائزة على جائزة نوبل للسلام، نادية مراد.

بالأمس ، بدأت محاكمة جنائية أمام المحكمة الإقليمية العليا في هامبورغ ضد جالدا أ. الألمانية عائدة من داعش بسبب مزاعم عن إساءة معاملتها لامرأة أيزيدية تم استعبادها في منزلها في سوريا. واتُهمت المرأة الألمانية البالغة من العمر 35 عامًا بالمساعدة والتحريض على الإبادة الجماعية وكذلك بارتكاب جرائم حرب وجرائم ضد الإنسانية ، بما في ذلك التعذيب والاسترقاق والاضطهاد القائم على الدين والجنس والمساعدة والتحريض على الاغتصاب.

وبحسب المدعي العام الاتحادي ، فإن المدعى عليها سافرت من ألمانيا إلى سوريا في أبريل 2014 ، حيث تزوجت من مقاتل داعش. بعد وفاة زوجها الأول ، تزوجت من ثانٍ ثم ثالث من مقاتلي داعش رفيعي الرتبة. من سبتمبر إلى أكتوبر 2017 ، عاشت المدعى عليها مع زوجها الثالث في مدينة الميادين السورية وضواحيها.

وبحسب لائحة الاتهام:

احتجز زوج المدعى عليه امرأة يزيدية ، م. كعبدة واغتصبها بانتظام.
المدعى عليها سهلت ذلك وهي نفسها اعتدت جسديا على المرأة الأيزيدية. كانت تسيء معاملة "م" كل يوم تقريبًا ، بما في ذلك بركلها وضرب رأسها بالحائط وشد شعرها.
كما أخضعت المدعى عليها م. للعمل قسري وأجبرتها على الصلاة وفق الشريعة الإسلامية.
كانت تهدف من خلال أفعالها إلى تدمير الديانة الإيزيدية.

ألقت القوات الكردية القبض على المدعى عليها في أواخر عام 2017 عندما كانت تحاول مغادرة سوريا. تم اعتقالها في مخيم روج شمال سوريا حتى إعادتها إلى ألمانيا في أكتوبر 2021. فور وصولها ، تم القبض عليها ووجهت لها اتهامات في أبريل 2022.

إنضمت م. إلى الدعوى المرفوعة ضد أ، جالدا. كمدعية مشاركة وتمثلها المحامية البريطانية أمل كلوني والمحاميتان الألمانيتان سونكا مهنر وناتالي فون ويستنهاوسن. ومن المتوقع أن تدلي بشهادتها في الأسابيع المقبلة. سبق لها أن أدلت بشهادتها أثناء المحاكمات في ألمانيا ضد أعضاء داعش الآخرين الذين أساءوا إليها ، بما في ذلك سارة و ، ونورتن ج . ، وأميمة أ.

وعلقت محامية الضحايا أمل كلوني على المحاكمة قائلة: "إنه لشرف كبير أن أمثل موكلتي الشجاعة في قضية أخرى تتعامل فيها مع المعتدين عليها وتدلي بشهادتها في المحكمة حول ما فعله داعش بها وبضحايا أيزيديين آخرين. وأكدت المحاكم الألمانية أن الجرائم التي ارتكبها تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية ترقى إلى مستوى الإبادة الجماعية وأنها تظهر للعالم أنه يمكن ، وينبغي ، محاكمة أعضاء داعش على هذه الجريمة."

وعلقت سوناكا مهنر قائلة: "هذه المحاكمة هي خطوة مهمة أخرى في عملية مستمرة لضمان حصول موكلتنا على العدالة على الجرائم الفظيعة التي ارتكبت ضدها. سنواصل السعي لتحقيق العدالة لموكلتنا والتأكد من الاعتراف والحماية بالحقوق التي يحق لها بموجب القانون الألماني.

وأضافت ناتالي فون ويستنهاوزن، من خلال شهادتها في عدة محاكمات ، موكلتنا هي واحدة من الشهود الرئيسيين الذين يساهمون في اكتشاف الحقيقة حول تورط مواطنين ألمان في الجرائم التي ارتكبها داعش ضد المجتمع الإيزيدي ، بما في ذلك جريمة الإبادة الجماعية. بدون ناجين شجعان مثلها وغيرها ، لا يمكن تحقيق المساءلة.

وأضافت ناتيا نافروزوف ، مديرة المناصرة القانونية في يزدا، المنظمة الأيزيدية العالمية غير الحكومية، والتي تمثلها أيضًا السيدة كلوني: " من خلال هذه المحاكمة الجديدة ، تواصل ألمانيا إظهار التزامها بمقاضاة الجرائم المرتكبة ضد الأيزيديين. نشيد بمثابرة المدعين الألمان ونتمنى أن تحذو المزيد من الدول حذوها. نحن نقترب من الذكرى الثامنة لإحياء ذكرى الإبادة الجماعية للإيزيديين ولا يزال العديد من الناجين يأملون في رؤية يومهم في المحكمة ، وخاصة في بلدهم العراق. لا يمكن إجراء المحاكمات على بعد آلاف الكيلومترات فقط ، بل يجب أن تتم بالقرب من الناجين حتى يكون هناك شعور بالأمان و "الوطن" مرة أخرى."

وعلقت نادية مراد الحائزة على جائزة نوبل للسلام ، والتي نجت هي نفسها من الاستعباد والتعذيب على يد داعش: "كل قضية مرفوعة ضد أعضاء داعش بتهمة الإبادة الجماعية والعنف الجنسي تعزز المساءلة عن الفظائع الجماعية. حقيقة أن م. لم تشهد في محاكمة واحدة بل ثلاث محاكمات ، تظهر شجاعة هائلة بالإضافة إلى خطورة هذه الجرائم ومداها. يجب على المحاكم الأخرى أن تحذو حذو ألمانيا لتوفير العدالة للناجين وتثبيط العنف في المستقبل."

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خلفية

الضحية من الأقلية الدينية اليزيدية وهذه هي القضية الثامنة في ألمانيا التي تتعلق بمحاكمة عضو في داعش على جرائم ارتكبت بحق هذا المجتمع.

منذ آب / أغسطس 2014 ، استُهدف المجتمع الإيزيدي في العراق وسوريا من قبل داعش من خلال حملة منظمة من الإعدام والاسترقاق والعنف الجنسي والتجنيد القسري للأطفال كجنود ، فضلاً عن التهجير القسري لما يقدر بنحو 400 ألف يزيدي من وطنهم في العراق. . تم الاعتراف بهذه الجرائم من قبل الأمم المتحدة والهيئات الوطنية والدولية ومؤخراً محكمة فرانكفورت الإقليمية العليا على أنها ترقى إلى مستوى الإبادة الجماعية.

أدانت المحاكم الألمانية أعضاء داعش بارتكاب (مساعدة وتحريض) على جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب لتورطهم في جرائم داعش المرتكبة ضد الأيزيديين في ست قضايا سابقة في ألمانيا مثلت فيها السيدة كلوني والسيدة فون فيستنجهاوزن ضحايا أيزيديين (انظر قضايا ضد طه أ.ج . ، جينيفر دبل يو . ، سارة و . ، نورتين ج . ، أميمة .).

في قضية منفصلة لم يشارك فيها محامٍ ، في 18 مايو 2022 ، أدانت المحكمة الإقليمية العليا في نومبورغ ليونورا إم ، و ألماني عائد آخر من داعش ، بالعضوية في منظمة إرهابية ولكن تمت تبرئته من المساعدة والتحريض على جريمة ضد الإنسانية بسبب تورطها المزعوم في استعباد امرأة أيزيدية. تم إغلاق الإجراءات ضد ليونورا م. أمام الجمهور لأنها كانت قاصرة عندما وقعت الأحداث.

الضحية في هذه القضية ، م. ، شاركت في ثلاث إجراءات سابقة (ضد سارة و . ، نورتين ج . ، أميمة أ ) بصفتها مدعية مشتركة. قبل أن تحتجز جالدا أ م. ، تم احتجازها وتعرضت للإيذاء من قبل سارة و. التي كانت متورطة في استعباد ست نساء إيزيديات أخريات. خلال هذه الفترة ، تم أيضًا "إقراضها" لأصدقاء سارة و الألمان نورتين ج. وأميمة أ. وشهدت خلال المحاكمة ضد نورتين ج. بأنها بيعت أو تم التنازل عنها أو تبادلها مع "عبيد" آخرين 14 مرة. خلال فترة وجودها في الأسر واغتصابها من قبل اثني عشر من "مالكيها".

زوج المدعى عليه هو صهر عنصر ألماني عائد من داعش ، سارة و. ، التي أدينت بارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية في محاكمة أمام محكمة دوسلدورف الإقليمية العليا العام الماضي. وهو محتجز لدى قوات سوريا الديمقراطية بحسب ما ورد .

ملاحظة للمحررين:

بموجب القانون الألماني ، يحق لضحايا الجرائم الجسيمة المشاركة في الإجراءات الجنائية بصفتهم "مدعين مشاركين" جنبًا إلى جنب مع الادعاء والدفاع. الضحية جزء من برنامج حماية الشهود ولا يمكن الكشف عن هويتها من أجل سلامتها. ولذلك يشار إليها باسم "م" في هذا البيان.

عادة لا يسمح القانون الألماني بالكشف عن ألقاب المتهمين الكاملة.

Yazda's press statement on the recent armed clashes in Sinjar

Wed, 04 May 2022 10:29:03 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

May 4, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Yazda strongly condemns the recent armed clashes between the Iraqi Army and YBS fighters among civilians in Sinja. These clashes caused significant damage to civilians, who have all been victims of an ongoing genocide since 2014.

According to UNHCR, over 4000 Yazidi civilians have been internally displaced again in the past few days as a direct result of these armed clashes. Additionally, these events have increased fear and uncertainty, as well a sense of an unknown future, among the Yazidis in Iraq.

We call upon all parties to immediately end the fight and deescalate the armed conflict. The dignity, safety, and security of the people of Sinjar must be at the forefront of any political, military, or security move.

We also urge the International Community, the Iraqi Government, and the Kurdistan Regional Government to take responsibility for ensuring that the situation in Sinjar does not deteriorate into a longer-term conflict. If this cannot be accomplished within a reasonable timeframe, we call on the international community to welcome Yazidis seeking safe passage out of Iraq. Yazidis have endured tremendous suffering over the last eight years and deserve peace, if not in Iraq, then elsewhere.

Download press release h ere .

بيان مشترك لشبكة الناجيات الإيزيديات وأمل كلوني ويزدا حول إدانة أحد أعضاء داعش في محاكمة أمريكية تاريخية

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 09:09:31 GMT

ناتيا نوروزوف

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٢٨ نيسان، ٢٠٢٢

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

في وقت سابق من هذا الشهر, تمت إدانة مقاتل داعش السابق المدعو "الشافعي-الشيخ" وهو عضو فيما يسمى ب خلية البيتلز من قبل هيئة محلفين امريكية في فرجينيا لدوره في قتل اربع رهائن امريكيين.

المواطن البريطاني السابق البالغ من العمر 33 عاما تمت إدانته بثمان تهم بما في ذلك اخذ الرهائن والتآمر في إرتكاب جريمة قتل وتقديم الدعم المادي لتنظيم داعش ايضاً.

كان الشيخ جزءاً من خلية تعرف ب (البيتلز) وذلك بسبب الهجات البريطانية لإعضاء هذه الخلية. قاموا بحجز 26 اجنبياً كرهائن من بينهم مواطنون من امريكا واوروبا ونيوزيلندا واليابان بين عامي 2012 – 2015. هذه المجموعة تمت معاملتهم بوحشية بما في ذلك الايهام بالغرق والاوضاع المجهدة والضرب، قام الشيخ شخصياُ بالمساعدة في حجز الرهائن وإساءة معاملتهم والتفاوض حول الفدية.

لقى الرهائن الأربع الامريكيين مصرعهم حيث كانوا صحفيين و عمال إغاثة، إذ تم قطع رأس جيمس فولي وكذلك ستيفن سوتلوف وبيتر كاسيج، إثنان منهم في تسجيل فيديوي وقتلت كايلا مولر إثناء الصراعات.

قدمت فتاة ايزيدية كانت محتجزة مع كايلا معلومات عن إحتجاز عامل الإغاثة الشاب خلال المحاكمة. والتقت الفتاة التي تم اختطافها واستعبادها خلال حملة الابادة الجماعية لداعش ضد الايزيديين في 2014 كايلا عندما كانتا محتجزتين في سجن في الرقة قبل ان يتم استعبادهما من قبل العضو البارز في تنظيم داعش المدعو ابو سياف.

استعبد ابو سياف وزوجته أم سياف النساء والفتيات الايزيديات في منزلهما وتعريضهن للتعذيب والضرب والاغتصاب. تعرضت كايلا للاغتصاب المتكرر في منزل ابو سياف من قبل ابو بكر البغدادي، زعيم تنظيم داعش أنذاك. في النهاية تمكنت الشاهدة الايزيدية من الهروب وأدت معلوماتها الى غارة عسكرية على المنزل أسفرت عن مقتل ابو سياف واعتقال زوجته.

هذه الفتاة الايزيدية كانت واحدة من بين 35 شاهداً حضروا امام المحكمة، كذلك 12 رهينة سابقين كانوا ايضاً من بين الشهود من بينهم الصحفي الفرنسي نيكولاس هينن وعامل الاغاثة الايطالي فيدريكو موتا الذي شرح بالتفصيل المحنة التي كان على الاسرى تحملها! كما وصف العديد من افراد الضحايا معاناتهم لهيئة المحلفين.

لطالما انتظرت عوائل الضحايا تحقيق العدالة. عندما تم القبض على الشيخ واليكساندا كوتي وهو عضو آخر في خلية البيتلز من قبل قوات سوريا الديمقراطية في شهر يناير من عام 2018. وفي أعقاب ذلك تم نقلهما الى الحجز العسكري الامريكي، ناشد أباء الضحايا الرئيس الامريكي السابق لجلب جناة اطفالهم الى الولايات المتحدة لمواجهة المحاكمة. كاد الأمر ألا يتم، لكن في نهاية المطاف وافق المدعي العام الامريكي على عدم فرض عقوبة الإعدام ضد الرجلين وهذا بدوره فتح الباب أمام تبادل الأدلة من قبل المملكة المتحدة مما سهل المحاكمة.

كان أباء الرهائن في قاعة المحكمة عندما وجدت هيئة المحلفين بعد اربع ساعات من المداولات الشيخ مذنباً في جميع التهم الموجهة إليه. ورداً على الحكم قالت والدة جيمس فولي " وأخيراً، نرى العدالة تتحقق لهولاء الامريكيين الاربعة الشجعان ، و هذا مغاير لما مر به أطفالنا، ’العدالة وليس الانتقام‘ وعلق كارل، والد كايلا مولر " بقدر كون هذه المحاكمة شاقة ومؤلمة، كان شرفاً لي أن أكون جزءً منها وأن أرى نظام العدالة الأمريكية يعمل. "

يواجه الرجلان حكم السجن مدى الحياة، ومن المقرر أن يتم الحكم عليهما في الاسابيع المقبلة.

قالت فايزة كمال وزينة حجي ، عضوان في شبكة الناجيات الإيزيديات (YSN) ، وهي مجموعة من الناجيات يدافعن عن العدالة الجنائية لجرائم داعش في العراق وعلى الصعيد الدولي: "نطالب بتضافر الجهود لتحقيق العدالة، فقد تورط عناصر داعش وعائلاتهم جميعًا في جرائم بحقنا وتعذيبنا وتزويجنا قسراً. ما زلنا ننتظر إلى أن يتم إنصافنا."

وعلقت المحامية البريطانية امل كلوني والتي تمثل مجموعة من النساء الأيزيديات في قضية أمريكية ضد أم سياف ، كذلك النساء المحتجزات مع كايلا على الإدانة "أنا سعيدة للغاية لوالدي الضحايا الذين انتظروا طويلاً لأجل هذه اللحظة، هذه المحاكمة تؤكد بأن تحقيق العدالة ممكن إذا تم إعطاء الاولوية لها. لكن معظم ضحايا داعش ينتظرون يومهم للحضور إلى المحكمة. نحتاج إلى جهد عالمي متضافر إذا اردنا رؤية مثل هذه المحاكمات على النطاق الذي يستحقه هذا الصراع."

قالت ناتيا نافروزوف، مديرة المناصرة القانونية في يزدا، منظمة ايزيدية دولية غير حكومية، التي تمثلها السيدة أمل كلوني أيضاً، " لقد قدمت الولايات المتحدة دعماً كبيرًا للمجتمع الأيزيدي وتتخذ الان خطوة جيدة نحو تحقيق العدالة لضحايا داعش. نود أن نرى أعضاء داعش مدانين أيضًا في محاكم أمريكية لارتكابهم جرائم بحق الأيزيديين ونحن مستعدون لدعم هذه العملية من خلال الأدلة التي جمعناها."

الخلفية:

أقر كوتي بالذنب في شهر أيلول من عام 2012. نفى الشيخ التهم الموجهة إليه. بدأت محاكمته في آواخر مارس/ آذار وإستغرقت 11 يوماً لتكتمل.

قُتل محمد موازي وهو ايضا زميل مقرب آخر وزعيم مزعوم لخلية البيتلز الذي نفذ عمليات النحر في غارة جوية للجيش الأمريكي في سوريا في تشرين الثاني 2015.

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Joint Statement of the Yazidi Survivors Network, Amal Clooney and Yazda on the conviction of an ISIS member in historical U.S. trial

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 08:52:24 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

April 28, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Natia Navrouzov

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Earlier this month, a U.S. federal jury in Virginia convicted the former ISIS fighter El Shafee Elsheikh – a member of the so-called “Beatles” cell – for his role in the killing of four American hostages. The 33-year-old former British national was found guilty on eight counts including hostage-taking, conspiracy to commit murder, and providing material support to ISIS.

Elsheikh was part of a cell known as the Beatles because of its members’ British accents. They held 26 foreigners hostage between 2012 and 2015, including nationals from the U.S., Europe, New Zealand, and Japan. The group subjected them to brutal treatment including waterboarding, stress positions, and beatings and Elsheikh personally helped to detain and abuse hostages and negotiate ransoms. Four American hostages, who were journalists and aid workers, died in captivity. James Foley, Steven Sotloff, and Peter Kassig were beheaded – two of them on film – and Kayla Mueller was killed in disputed circumstances.

A Yazidi girl who was held captive with Kayla provided information on the young aid worker’s confinement during the trial. The girl, who was abducted and enslaved during ISIS’ genocidal campaign against Yazidis in 2014, met Kayla when they were both held in a prison in Raqqa before the two were enslaved by senior ISIS leader Abu Sayyaf. Together with his wife Umm Sayyaf, Abu Sayyaf enslaved Yazidi women and girls at his home and subjected them to torture, beatings, and rape. Kayla was repeatedly raped by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the ISIS leader at the time, at the Sayyaf house. The Yazidi witness was eventually able to escape, and her information led to a mili tary raid on the house which resulted in Abu Sayyaf’s death and the arrest of his wife .

The Yazidi girl was one of 35 witnesses who testified during the trial. Other witnesses included 12 former hostages, including French journalist Nicholas Henin and Italian aid worker Federico Motka who detailed the ordeal captives had to endure. Several family members of the victims also described their suffering to the jury.

Victims’ families have long waited for justice. When Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey – another member of the “Beatles” – were captured in January 2018 by Syrian Democratic Forces and later transferred to U.S. military custody, the victims’ parents implored the former U.S. President to bring their children’s perpetrators to the U.S. to face trial. It almost did not happen. But ultimately the U.S. Attorney-General agreed not to pursue the death penalty against the two men, opening the door to evidence-sharing by the U.K. that facilitated the trial.

The parents of the hostages were in the courtroom when, after four hours of deliberations, the jury found Elsheikh guilty on all counts. In response to the verdict, James Foley’s mother, Diane Foley, said ‘ [w]e finally have justice for these four brave Americans’ and that ‘ [i]t’s the very opposite of what our children experienced — justice, not revenge ’. Kayla Mueller’s father Carl also commented that ‘ [a]s arduous and painful as this trial was, it was a privilege to be a part of it, and see the American justice system at work ’.

Both men are facing a mandatory sentence of life in prison and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming weeks.

Faezeh Kamal and Zina Hajji, two members of the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN), a group of survivors advocating inter alie for criminal justice for ISIS crimes in Iraq and internationally, said: “We demand coordinated efforts in the pursuit of justice. ISIS members and their families were all involved in crimes against us, torturing us and forcibly marrying us off. We are still waiting for redress.”

British barrister Amal Clooney, who represents a group of Yazidi women in a U.S. case against Umm Sayyaf , including women who were held captive with Kayla, commented on the conviction: “I am so happy for the victims’ parents who have waited for so long for this moment. This trial shows that justice is possible – if only it is prioritized. But most of ISIS’ victims are still waiting for their day in court and we need a concerted global effort if we are to see trials like this at the scale that this conflict deserves.”

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director at global Yazidi NGO Yazda, which is also represented by Ms. Clooney said, “The U.S. has been a great support to the Yazidi community and is taking here a good step towards justice for ISIS victims. We wish to see ISIS members also convicted in U.S. courts for crimes against Yazidis and are ready to support this process with the evidence we have collected.”

Background

Kotey pleaded guilty in September 2021. Elsheikh denied the charges. The trial against him started in late March and took 11 days to complete. Mohammed Emwazi, another close associate and alleged leader of the “Beatles” cell who carried out beheadings, was killed in a U.S. military airstrike in Syria in November 2015.

Download press release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

أديبة مراد تشارك تجربتها الشخصية كناجية من الإبادة الجماعية الإيزيدية

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 11:54:31 GMT

أديبة مراد، ناشطة في حقوق الانسان، وعضو في شبكة الناجين الإيزيديين، تحدّثت للقناة الالكترونية للنهار Annahar Web TV عن الصعوبات التي تواجه الإيزيديين النازحين داخلياً في سنجار.

شرحت أديبة، مباشرة عبر قناة النهار، لرئيسة المحتوى الرقمي في موقع جريدة النهار ديانا سكيني، عن جرائم الإبادة التي ارتكبت بحق الإيزيديين في ٣ آب، ٢٠١٤. ولقد وصفت الأعمال والسلوكيات التي تعرّض لها الإيزيديون من جرائم القتل والخطف والسبي والعنف ضد الأطفال والنساء والتهجير القصري وتدمير المنازل.

كما تحدّثت أديبة عن مقاومتها لداعش رغم أعمال الترهيب التي واجهتها، قبل تحرّرها من تنظيم داعش الإرهابي عام ٢٠١٥. "المآسي التي واجهتنا قد علّمتنا الصبر، غير أن فرح الانتصار على داعش شكّل إنجازاً عظيماً."

وأشادت أديبة بجهود يزدا، مؤسسة عالمية يقودها المجتمع المحلي، تحمي وتدافع عن جميع الأقليات في العراق، وضحايا الإبادة الإيزيدية وجرائم الحرب. تقوم يزدا بدعم الناجين الإيزيديين من خلال تزويدهم بالرعاية الصحية، الدعم النفسي، وبناء القدرات.

"سنواصل تركيز جهودنا على دعم الناجين الإيزيديين والدفاع عن حقوقهم"، أوضحت أديبة في حديثها عن دور ومسؤولية شبكة الناجين الإيزيديين تجاه كلّ الناجين.

لا يزال الإيزيديون غير قادرين على العودة إلى ديارهم، ويستمرّون في العيش في ظروف صعبة جداً في مخيمات النازحين داخلياً. الوضع الأمني وضعف الإرادة السياسية في سبيل تمكين سنجار هي عقبات مستمرة تواجه أديبة وأعضاء مجتمعها، وتعرقل عودتهم إلى ديارهم وإعادة بناء مستقبلهم.

Adiba Murad shares her personal story as a survivor of the Yazidi Genocide

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 11:31:06 GMT

Adiba Murad, human rights activist and member of the Yazda Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN), spoke to Annahar TV about the critical situation facing Yazidi internally displaced persons in Sinjar.

Live on Annahar TV with Digital Editor, Diana Skaini, Adiba explained the crimes of genocide committed against the Yazidi people that began on August 3, 2014. She described how and what happened to the Yazidis with the enslavement of women and children, mass killings, forced displacement of an entire community, and destruction of their homes.

Adiba spoke about her resistance against Dae’sh despite having faced unspeakable horror, before her liberation from the terrorist ISIS organization in 2015. “The tragedies we faced taught us patience, but the joy of victory and liberation from Dae’sh is the greatest accomplishment.”

Adiba praised the efforts of Yazda, a community-led institution dedicated to empowering all minorities in Iraq that faced genocide and war crimes. Yazda supports Yazidi suvivors by providing programs such as healthcare services, mental health support, and capacity-building.

“Our efforts will continue to support Yazidi survivors and to promote their rights,” said Adiba on the responsibility of the YSN towards all survivors.

The Yazidi people are still unable to return back to their homeland and continue to live in very difficult conditions in the internally displaced persons camps. The security situation and lack of political will to enable Sinjar remain obstacles for Adiba and her community members to come back home and build a new future.

Yazidi survivors, Yazda and Amal Clooney welcome the start of exhumation activities in Hardan, Sinjar

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 18:46:15 GMT

Drone shot of Hardan junction in Sinjar where lie 6 mass graves and 1 kill site following executions of Yazidis carried out by ISIL on 3 August 2014, picture taken on 1 July 2021 by Yazda documentation team

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

February 21, 2022

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Jameel Chomer

+964 750 704 3819

iq.country.director@yazda.org

On 22 February 2022, the Martyrs Foundation, the Iraqi authority in charge of the processes of exhumation and identification of victims, in cooperation with the UN Investigative Team for Accountability of Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD), will begin the exhumation of mass graves in the village of Hardan, on the North side of Sinjar Mountain. Survivors from Hardan, global Yazidi NGO Yazda and Amal Clooney, legal counsel to Yazidi survivors and to Yazda, welcome this important milestone in the investigation of crimes committed by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidi minority in Iraq.

Between 2019 and 2020, a total of 18 mass graves were exhumed in Sinjar (17 in Kocho and 1 in Solagh) and the remains of 145 victims were identified and buried so far. There are still around 70 unexhumed mass graves and as people return to their areas, new sites are discovered. In Hardan, a total of 6 mass graves and one kill site needs to be exhumed and the work will be performed over the course of the next 3 to 4 weeks. Hardan is the first village on the North side of Sinjar Mountain where exhumations will be carried out with the technical support of UNITAD. Like many other villages in Sinjar, Hardan was attacked by ISIL on 3 August 2014. 362 Yazidis were kidnapped, 132 of whom are still missing and might be identified among the excavated remains. In November 2021, Yazda reported on the situation in Hardan, which still carries the marks of the attacks and needs urgent humanitarian assistance.

Tomorrow, a ceremony organized by the families, with the support of civil society organizations, will take place in the presence of the Yazidi community members and Iraqi and international officials. Yazidi religious rituals will be performed in honor of the victims before remains are taken to the mortuary in Baghdad for identification purposes. After identification, the remains will be returned to the families for dignified burial ceremonies.

Yazda teams and other partners will be present to support the Yazidi community in this difficult moment by providing medical and mental health services on site. Yazda teams will also answer questions of the families and refer them to the Martyrs Foundation and to UNITAD whenever needed. An outreach video will be published shortly after the event to reach the families living abroad and not able to travel to Iraq.

Shireen Khero and Zina Khalat, two survivors from Hardan and members of the Yazidi Survivors Network commented:

“Today is the day we remember that humanity failed us, and genocide was committed against us. As a result, we were held captive for years and lost so many of our family members. After almost 8 years our wounds are ripped open as exhumations of the mass graves are starting in our village. Today we ask the Iraqi authorities to join forces with allies to search for the 2,700 missing Yazidis.”

Amal Clooney, Legal Counsel to many survivors and to Yazda, commented:

“I extend my deepest condolences to the families of Hardan and hope that the Iraqi authorities, in cooperation with the UN Investigative Team in Iraq (UNITAD), can complete the exhumation process for all remaining mass graves as soon as possible”.

Baba Sheikh, the Head of the Yazidi faith stated:

“Members of our community have laid undignified in mass graves for more than 7 years now. It is crucial that all mass graves in Sinjar are exhumed, and that Yazidi religious rituals are performed over every single site in the presence of the families.”

Yazda’s Country Director in Iraq, Jameel Chomer adds:

“Hardan clearly illustrates the brutality of ISIS and other terrorist organizations: in this small and peaceful village, hundreds of people were killed or were kidnapped within hours, many of which are still missing today. The elimination of ISIS extremist ideology requires concerted international efforts, otherwise, history will continue to repeat, especially for minorities such as the Yazidis.”

Download press release h ere .

For the Arabic version, click here .

الناجيين الأيزيديين، يزدا وأمل كلوني يرحبون ببدء عمليات استخراج الرفات في حردان، سنجار

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 13:43:20 GMT

لقطات جوية لقرية حردان في سنجار، تظهر ٦ مقابر جماعيّة وأحد مواقع الجريمة بعد عمليات الاعدام التي ارتكبها داعش ضد الإيزيديين في ٣ أغسطس ٢٠١٤، تمّ التقاط هذه الصورة في ١ يوليو ٢٠٢١ من قبل فريق يزدا للتوثيق

Jameel Chomer

+964 750 704 3819

iq.country.director@yazda.org

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٢١ شباط ٢٠٢٢

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

في ٢٢ شباط ٢٠٢٢، ستبدأ مؤسسة الشهداء، وهي الجهة العراقية المسؤولة عن عمليات استخراج الرفات وتحديد هوية الضحايا، بالتعاون مع فريق التحقيق التابع للأمم المتحدة والمعني بمساءلة داعش )يونيتاد( باستخراج الرفات من المقابر الجماعية في قرية حردان في شمالي جبل سنجار. ويرحب الضحايا من اهالي حردان، والمنظمة الأيزيدية العالمية غير الحكومية، يزدا، وأمل كلوني ، المستشارة القانونية للناجين الإيزيديين وليزدا، بهذه الخطوة الهامة في التحقيق في الجرائم التي ارتكبتها ما يسمى بالدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام )داعش( ضد الأقلية الأيزيدية في العراق.

بين عامي ٢٠١٩ و ٢٠٢٠ تم استخراج الرفات من ١٨ مقبرة جماعية في سنجاركمجموع )١٧ في كوجو و واحدة في صولاغ( وتم التعرف على رفات ١٤٥ ضحية ودفنهم حتى الآن. ما يقارب 70 مقبرة جماعية لا زالت بحاجة الى التنقيب. يتم الكشف عن مواقع جديدة بإستمرار مع عودة الناس الى مناطقهم. في حردان، ٦ مقابر جماعية وموقع قتل بحاجة الى عمليات استخراج الرفات، وسيتم إنجاز العمل على مدى ٣ إلى ٤ أسابيع القادمة. تعتبر حردان أول قرية على الجانب الشمالي من جبل سنجار تجري فيها عمليات التنقيب، حيث سيتم استخراج الرفات بدعم تقني من يونيتاد. تعرضت قرية حردان للهجوم كالعديد من القرى الأيزيدية الأخرى في سنجار من قبل تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية في الثالث من أغسطس عام ٢٠١٤ وُاختط َف منها ٣٦٢ أيزيديًا ، حيث لا يزال ١٣٢ منهم في عداد المفقودين وقد يتم التعرف عليهم بين الرفات المستخرجة. وفي تشرين الثاني٢٠٢١، قدمت يزدا تقريرًا عن الوضع الراهن في قرية حردان التي لا تزال تحمل أثار الهجمات وتحتاج إلى مساعدة إنسانية عاجلة.

وتقام غدًا مراسيم تنظمها العوائل بدعم من منظمات المجتمع المدني وبحضور أعضاء المجتمع الأيزيدي والمسؤولين العراقيين والدوليين. وسوف تقام الطقوس الدينية الأيزيدية تكريمًا للضحايا قبل نقل الرفات إلى المشرحة في بغداد لأغراض تحديد الهوية. وبعد تحديد الهوية ، سيتم إعادة الرفات إلى الأسر من أجل دفنها بطريقة لائقة.

وستحضر فرق يزدا وشركاء أخرون لدعم المجتمع الأيزيدي في هذه اللحظات الصعبة وذلك عن طريق توفير الخدمات الطبية وخدمات الصحة النفسية في الموقع. كما سوف تجيب فرق يزدا على أسئلة الأسر وتحيلها إلى مؤسسة الشهداء ويونيتاد كلما تطلب الأمر. وسيتم نشر فيديو بعد وقت قصير من الحدث للوصول إلى الأسر التي تعيش في الخارج والتي لا تستطيع السفر إلى العراق.

وعلقت كلا من شيرين خيرو وزينة خلات، وهما ناجيتان من حردان عضوان في شبكة الناجيات الأيزيديات:

"اليوم هو اليوم الذي نتذكر فيه أن البشرية خذلتنا، وارُتكبت إبادة جماعية بحقنا. ونتيجة لذلك، كنا في الأسر لسنوات وفقدنا الكثير من أفراد عائلاتنا. وبعد ما يقرب ٨ سنوات ، تتجدد جروحنا بينما تبدأ عمليات استخراج الرفات من المقابر الجماعية في قريتنا. اليوم نطلب من السلطات العراقية أن تتضافر قواها مع الحلفاء للبحث عن ٢٧٠٠ أيزيدي مفقود."

و َعلقت أمل كلوني ، المستشارة القانونية للعديد من الناجيات ويزدا:

"أتقدم بخالص التعازي لأهالي حردان وآمل أن تتمكن السلطات العراقية بالتعاون مع فريق التحقيق الدولي في العراق )يونيتاد( من استكمال عملية استخراج الرفات من جميع المقابر الجماعية المتبقية في أسرع وقت ممكن".

َذك َر بابا الشيخ ، الأب الروحي للأيزيديين:

" لا يزال أفراد من مجتمعنا ملقين في مقابر جماعية منذ أكثر من سبع سنوات. من الضروري أن يتم استخراج الرفات من جميع المقابر الجماعية في سنجار وأن ُتقام الطقوس الدينية الخاصة بالأيزيديين في كل موقع وبحضور العوائل."

ويضيف جميل جومر المدير القطري لمنظمة يزدا في العراق قائلا:

"ما حدث لقرية حردان يبين جليًا وحشية داعش وغيرها من المنظمات الإرهابية. ففي هذه القرية الصغيرة والمسالمة ،قتل و ُأختطف مئات الأشخاص في غضون ساعات ولا يزال العديد منهم مفقودين حتى يومنا هذا. لذا يتطلب بذل جهود دولية فعلية للقضاء على الأيديولوجية المتطرفة لداعش وإلا سيعيد التاريخ نفسه ولا سيما بالنسبة للأقليات مثل الأيزيديين."

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.
للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا.

Outreach video of the Second Kocho Burial Ceremony

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:55:36 GMT

On 9 December 2021, in the presence of Iraqi and international officials and Yazidi community members, a second funeral for the return of the remains of 41 Yazidi victims of ISIS took place in Kocho, Sinjar.

Yazda's Documentation team documented the ceremony and produced the video below to raise awareness and to reach community members living abroad and who could not travel to Iraq. Yazda’s Case Managers and Yazda’s Mobile Medical Unit were deployed and provided psychological support as well as medical assistance on the day of the burial. Yazda thanks its donors who enabled this support.

Yazda teams remain available to answer questions of the community on the exhumation and identification processes and/or to put them in touch with the relevant authorities.

Again, Yazda wishes to extend its condolences to the families of the victims and reiterates its commitment to support ISIS survivors.

Watch it on our Yazda Youtube Channel .

بيان أمل كلوني ومنظمة يزدا حول المناسبة الثانية لمراسيم الدفن ل41 شخصاً من ضحايا الإبادة الإيزيدية في سنجار

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 13:54:36 GMT

Jameel Chomer

+964 750 704 3819

iq.country.director@yazda.org

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٨ كانون الأوّل ٢٠٢١

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

في 09/كانون الأول/ 2021، في حضرة المسؤولين العراقيين والدوليين و المجتمع الأيزيدي. ستتم مراسيم دفن 41 .شخصًا أيزيديًا من ضحايا داعش في قرية كوجو، سنجار .سوف تلي مراسيم الدفن خمسة أيام من الحداد. الموتى كانوا قد أع ِدموا في قرية كوجو، سنجار في شهر آب عام 2014 في كوجو بدأت في شهر أذار عام 2019 وإستمرت خلال عام 2020. UN عملية التنقيب المدعومة من قبل الأمم المتحدة حتى الآن، تم تنقيب 17 مقبرة جماعية في كوجو وقد تم دفن 104 شخصًا من الضحايا الأيزيديين في وقت سابق من هذه السنة ٢٢ شباط.

تحديد هوية الضحايا تم من قبل ِقسم الطب العدلي العراقي التابع لمؤسسة الشهداء بمساعدة فريق التحقيق الدولي خلال إجتماع ُنظم في 24/تشرين الثاني.ICMP واللجنة الدولية لشؤون المفقوديين UNITAD المختص بمساءلة داعش في دهوك و بحضور الناجين الأيزيديين، أكد ِقسم الطب العدلي على أهمية قدوم ذوي الضحايا وتزويد السلطات بعينات .DNA الدم لتسريع عملية تطابق الحمض النووي. أفراد المجتمع الأيزيدي الذين سيعودون إلى العراق من الخارج، سيطلب منهم خصيصاً التواصل مع قِسم الطب العدلي أو منظمة يزدا في الأيام والأسابيع القادمة.

على غرار مراسيم التشييع الأولى في كوجو ، سترافق منظمة يزدا ومنظمات أخرى المجتمع الأيزيدي خلال هذا الوقت الحساس للغاية. سيتم نشر مدراء الحالات الذين أجروا مناقشات جماعية محورية قبل مراسيم الدفن، وبدورهم سيقدمون الدعم النفسي خلال يوم التشييع. ستقدم عيادة يزدا الطبية المتنقلة المساعدة الطبية للمجتمع عند الحاجة. سيقوم فريق يزدا للتوثيق بتصوير الخطابات الرسمية وتحضير تقرير حول المراسيم ومقابلة السلطات والشركاء بما في ذلك أعضاء MLD وممثلي UNITAD وICMP. المجتمع مرحب به لإبداء وجهات نظرهم حول العملية والإبلاغ عن أي مخاوف.

علقت أمل كلوني بصفتها الممثلة القانونية للعديد من الناجين الإيزيديين وكذلك يزدا:

"أتقدم بخالص العزاء لأسر الضحايا الذين انتظروا كل هذه الفترة لحسم الأمور. أعلم بأن الكثير منهم ما زالوا ينتظرون و يبحثون عن أحبائهم. يجب أن نبقى حازمين في بذل جهودنا لضمان تقديم الجناة إلى العدالة ، وكشف جرائمهم المروعة وحصول الضحايا على الدعم الذي يستحقونه."

يضيف جميل جومر مدير القطري لمنظمة يزدا في العراق:

"بعد مرور سبع سنوات من المجازر والإبادة الجماعية، المجتمع الأيزيدي محطم عاطفياً ونفسياً, ولا سيما أهالي قرية” كوجو. تعيش الأُسر في ألم فقدان أحبائها، سيخفف تسليمهم رفات 41 شخصًا ألمهم قليلاً. رغم أن السلطات العراقية وUNITAD يبذلون قصارى جهدهم، إلا أن مئات الجثث لا تزال مجهولة الهوية بسبب نقص الموارد البشرية والدعم المالي. ندعو المجتمع الدولي لدعم كلا الفريقين وتسريع عمليات تحديد الهوية والتنقيب في سنجار."

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.
للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا.

Statement by Amal Clooney & Yazda on the Second Burial Ceremony of 41 Yazidi Genocide Victims in Sinjar

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 07:00:03 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

December 8, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Jameel Chomer

+964 750 704 3819

iq.country.director@yazda.org

On 9 December 2021, in the presence of Iraqi and international officials and Yazidi community members, a funeral will be held in Kocho, Sinjar, for 41 Yazidi victims of ISIS. 5 mourning days will be observed after the burial. The deceased were executed in Kocho village, Sinjar, in August 2014. The UN-supported exhumation process in Kocho started in March 2019 and continued during 2020 . So far, 17 mass graves have been exhumed in Kocho and 104 Yazidi victims were buried earlier this year .

The identification of the remains was carried out by the Iraqi Medico-Legal Department (MLD) of the Martyrs Foundation, with the assistance of the UN Investigative Team for Accountability of Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). During a meeting organized on 24 November in Duhok in the presence of Yazidi survivors, MLD highlighted the importance of family members of the missing coming forward to provide the authorities with a blood sample to accelerate the DNA-matching process. Members of the Yazidi community who will be travelling back to Iraq from abroad are specifically asked to get in touch with MLD or Yazda in the coming days and weeks.

As with the first burial in Kocho, Yazda and other organizations will accompany Yazidi community members during this extremely sensitive time. Yazda’s Case Managers will be deployed and will provide psychological support on the day of the burial. Yazda’s Mobile Medical Unit will provide medical assistance to the community where needed. Yazda’s Documentation Team will film the official speeches, report on the ceremony and interview the authorities and partners, including members of the MLD and representatives of UNITAD and ICMP. The community will be invited to provide feedback on the process and report any concerns.

As the legal representative of many Yazidi survivors as well as Yazda, Amal Clooney comments:

“I extend my sincere condolences to the families of the victims, who have waited so long for closure. And I know that too many others are still waiting, still searching for loved ones. We must remain resolute in our efforts to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, that their horrific crimes are exposed, and that victims receive the support they deserve”.

Yazda’s Country Director in Iraq, Jameel Chomer adds:

“After seven years of massacre and genocide, the Yazidi community is crushed emotionally and psychologically, particularly the people of Kocho village. The families are living in the pain of the loss of their beloved ones and delivering the remains of 41 individuals will relieve only little of this pain from their shoulders. Although the Iraqi authorities and UNITAD are doing their utmost, hundreds of bodies remain unidentified due to a lack of human resources, and financial support. We call the international community to support both teams and to accelerate the processes of identification and exhumation in Sinjar”.

Download press release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

German court hands down first genocide conviction against ISIS member

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 16:11:22 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

November 30, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Natia Navrouzov

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Press Statement by Amal Clooney, Natalie von Wistinghausen and Dr. Jörg Oesterle who represent the Yazidi victim participating in the proceedings as a co-plaintiff; Yazda, an NGO that has been advocating for justice for Yazidis since 2014; and Yazidi survivor and Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad.

In a landmark trial, Iraqi national Taha A.-J. was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes following his enslavement and abuse of Yazidis in Fallujah, Iraq. This represents the first conviction of an ISIS member for genocide anywhere in the world.

According to the judgment, Taha A.-J. joined the terrorist group "Islamic State" (ISIS) sometime before March 2013. In the summer of 2015, he “purchased” and together with his wife enslaved a five-year-old Yazidi girl named Reda and her mother who were part of a group of Yazidi prisoners. They held Reda and her mother as captives at their residence in Fallujah, where they forced them to practice Islam and work as slaves. Both were violently beaten by Taha A.-J. and subjected to other abuse. Reda ultimately died after he chained her outdoors to the bars of the window and left her hanging in the scorching heat as a punishment for wetting the bed. The Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment.

Although Taha A.-J. is not a German national, his victims are not German and his crimes have not been committed on German territory, German courts have jurisdiction over the crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity under the principle of universal jurisdiction. His wife, “Jennifer W”, a German national, was sentenced in a separate trial last month to 10 years in prison for her own involvement in the crimes against Reda and her mother.

Reda’s mother – a member of the Yazidi community from the village of Kocho in Northern Iraq that was one of the targets of ISIS' brutal genocidal campaign – participated in the proceedings against Taha A.-J. as a co-plaintiff after the NGO Yazda identified and located her in Iraq. During the trial, she was represented by a legal team consisting of Amal Clooney and German lawyers Natalie von Wistinghausen and Dr. Jörg Oesterle. The victim was present in the courtroom when the judgment was handed down.

Victim’s counsel Amal Clooney commented: “This is the moment Yazidis have been waiting for. To finally hear a judge, after 7 years, declare that what they suffered was genocide. To watch a man face justice for killing a Yazidi girl – because she was Yazidi. There is no more denying it – ISIS is guilty of genocide. I am in awe of my client’s courage and grateful to Germany for defending the principle of universal jurisdiction which means that crimes like this must be prosecuted wherever and whenever they occur.”

Natalie von Wistinghausen and Dr. Jörg Oesterle added: “The genocide of the Yazidi has already been recognized by international bodies like the UN and the European parliament as well as other national parliaments. But for a court of law to legally define the crimes ISIS committed against the Yazidi people as a genocide is a ‘first’. The individual criminal responsibility of the accused in this case could only be proven thanks to the courageous testimony of our client. It’s not an easy day for her as this verdict will never bring back her daughter and heal her wounds. But she is relieved that justice prevails for her community, for herself and for her daughter”.

Yazidi survivor and Nobel Laureate Nadia Murad commented: “This verdict is a win for survivors of genocide, survivors of sexual violence, and the entire Yazidi community. Thank you to Germany for today's historic conviction. Germany is not only is raising awareness about the need for justice, but is acting on it. Their use of universal jurisdiction in this case can and should be replicated by governments around the world”.

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director at global Yazidi NGO Yazda, that has helped identify and locate victims in several criminal proceedings in different jurisdictions, said: “Yazidis use the word ‘firman’ when they speak about genocide. We have all heard this word from our parents, grand-parents and it has crossed generations to qualify numerous genocide attacks Yazidis were subjected to. Recently, this word was carried by ISIS survivors, especially Yazidi female survivors and today it is the first time in Yazidi history that this word takes a legal meaning and is used by a court of law to qualify ISIS crimes against Yazidis. We commend Germany, our legal team and of course, Reda’s mother for making this happen and we hope that this decision will empower the Yazidi community to continue their fight for justice and also give hope to genocide survivors.”

Download press release here .

For the Arabic version, click here .

Note to editors:

German courts have previously convicted the four German ISIS returnees Jennifer W ., N ur ten J ., Sarah O . and O mai ma A . of (aiding and abetting) crimes against humanity committed against Yazidis. Amal Clooney, Natalie von Wistinghausen and Sonka Mehner represented the victims who participated as co-plaintiffs in these trials.

Under German law, victims of grave crimes have the right to participate in criminal proceedings as “co-plaintiffs” alongside the prosecution and defence.

The victim in this case is part of a witness protection program. For the victim’s safety, her identity cannot be revealed.

German law also does not permit disclosure of defendants’ full surnames.

محكمة ألمانيا تدين عنصراً داعشياً بجريمة الإبادة الجماعية لأول مرة

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 14:17:27 GMT

ناتيا نوروزوف

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٣٠ تشرين الثاني ٢٠٢١

تاريخ:

الصادر في:

آخر تحديث:

البيان الصحفي لأمل كلوني وناتالي فون ويستنغهاوزن و د. يورغ أوسترلي الذين يمثلون الضحية الأيزيدية المشاركة في الإجراءات كطرف، إضافة الى منظمة يزدا، وهي منظمة غير حكومية والتي تناصر لتحقيق العدالة للأيزيديين منذ عام 2014، والناجية الأيزيدية الحائزة على جائزة نوبل، نادية مراد.

في محاكمة بارزة، أدين العراقي الجنسية طه أ. ج. بجريمة الإبادة الجماعية ، جرائم ضد الإنسانية وجرائم حرب جراء إستعباده وإعتداءه على إيزيديين في الفلوجة، العراق. تعتبر هذه الإدانة الأولى لعنصر من داعش بجريمة الإبادة الجماعية في أي مكان من العالم.

بحسب قرار المحكمة فإن طه أ. ج. إلتحق بالمجموعة الإرهابية، الدولة الإسلامية (داعش) ، في وقت ما قبل شهر آذار عام 2013. في صيف عام 2015، قام مع زوجته بشراء وإستعباد طفلة إيزيدية ذات خمسة سنوات تدعى ريدا وأمها اللتان كانتا ضمن مجموعة من أسرى إيزيديين. قاما بإحتجاز ريدا وأمها كأسرى في مكان إقامتهما في الفلوجة حيث أجبراهما على ممارسة تعاليم الإسلام والعمل كالعبيد. تعرضت الإثنتان لضرب عنيف وأنواع أخرى من الإعتداء من قبل طه أ. ج. ماتت ريدا في نهاية المطاف بعدما قام بقيدها بقضبان النافذة في الخارج وتركها معلقة في الحر الشديد كعقوبة لتبليلها الفراش. المحكمة الإقليمية العليا في فرانكفورت حكمت على المتهم بالسجن المؤبد.

على الرغم أن طه أ. ج. ليس ألماني الجنسية وضحاياه ليسوا ألمانيين وجرائمه لم ترتكب على أرضٍ ألمانية إلا أن المحاكم الألمانية لديها ولاية على جرائم الإبادة الجماعية وجرائم الحرب والجرائم ضج الإنسانية وفقاً لشروط الولاية القضائية العالمية.

كان قد تم الحكم على زوجته الألمانية الجنسية "جينيفر و." في محكمة منفصلة في الشهر الماضي بالسجن لعشرة سنوات لتورطها في الجرائم ضد ريدا وأمها.

أم ريدا- والتي هي فرد من المجتمع الأيزيدي من قرية كوجو، شمال العراق والتي كانت أحد ضحايا حملة الإبادة الجماعية الوحشية التي إرتكبها داعش- شاركت في الإجراءات القضائية ضد طه أ. ج. كطرف مشارك بعد أن قامت منظمة يزدا غير الحكومية بالتعرف والتوصل إليها في العراق. خلال المحاكمة، مثلها فريق متكون من كلٍ من أمل كلوني، والمحاميتان الألمانيتان ناتالي فون ويستنغهاوزن و د. يورغ أوسترلي. كانت الضحية موجودة في قاعة المحكمة عندما صُدر الحكم.

علقت المستشارة القانونية للضحية ، أمل كلوني: "هذه هي اللحظة التي كان الأيزيديون ينتظروها. كانوا ينتظرون لسبع سنوات أن يسمعوا قاضياً يعلن إن ما حدث لهم إبادة جماعية وأن يروا إنساناً يواجه العدالة لقتله فتاة إيزيدية¬¬_ من أجل هويتها الأيزيدية. لا يمكن نكران حقيقة إن داعش مدان بجرائم الابادة الجماعية بعد الأن. أنا مذهولة من شجاعة موكلتي وممتنة لألمانيا على دفاعها عن مبدأ الولاية القضائية العالمية والذي يعني بأن جرائم كهذه يجب ان تُدان أينما ومتى ما أُرتكبت."

ناتالي فون ويستنغهاوزن و د. يورغ أوسترلي أضافوا: "قد تم الإعتراف بالإبادة الأيزيدية من قبل جهات عالمية كالأمم المتحدة والبرلمان الأوربي بالإضافة الى برلمانات محلية أخرى ولكن هذه هي المرة الأولى التي تعترف فيها محكمةً بشكل قانوني أن الجرائم التي ارتكبها داعش بحق الأيزيديين إبادة جماعية. أن المسوؤلية الجنائية الفردية للمتهم في هذه القضية ما كانت لتثبت لولا الشهادة الجرئية لموكلتنا. هذا ليس يوماً سهلاً عليها لأن الحكم لن يرجع لها انتها ولن يشفي جراحها ولكنها تشعر بالراحة لأن العدالة تسود لها و لمجتمعها وابنتها.

علقت الناجية الأيزيدية الحائزة على جائزة نوبل، نادية مراد: "يعتبر هذا الحكم نجاحاً لضحايا الإبادة الجماعية ، ضحايا العنف الجنسي ، والمجتمع الأيزيدي باكمله. أتقدم بجزيل الشكر لدولة ألمانيا على هذه الإدانة التاريخة في هذا اليوم. لا تكتفي ألمانيا بنشر التوعية عن ضرورة تحقيق العدالة بل تعمل على تحقيق ذلك ايضاً. إتباعهم الولاية القضائية العالمية في هذه القضية يجب ان تُتبع من قبل الحكومات حول العالم."

قالت ناتيا نافروزوف, مديرة قسم المناصرة القانونية لدى يزدا, المنظمة الأيزيدية العالمية غير الحكومية ، التي ساهمت في تحديد هوية وأماكن وجود الضحايا في عدة إجراءات جنائية أمام سلطات قضائية مختلفة: "الأيزيديون يستخدمون كلمة " فرمان" عندما يتحدثون عن الإبادة الجماعية. جميعنا سمعنا هذه الكلمة من أبائنا وأجدادنا وتناقلتها الأجيال لوصف الابادات الجماعية الكثيرة المرتكبة بحق الأيزيديين. ويتم تداول هذه الكلمة مؤخراً من قبل الناجيين والناجيات من قبضة داعش وخاصة الناجيات الأيزيديات. اليوم ولأول مرة في التاريخ الأيزيدي تستخدم هذه الكلمة في المجال القانوني ويتم إستخدامها من قبل المحاكم القانونية لوصف الجرائم المرتكبة من قبل داعش بحق الأيزيديين. نثني جهود ألمانيا وفريقنا القانوني و والدة ريدا لمساهمتهم في تحقيق هذا الأمر. نأمل أن يشجع هذا القرار المجتمع الأيزيدي للأستمرار في السعي وراء تحقيق العدالة وايضاً لإعطاء الأمل لناجيين وناجيات الإبادة الجماعية."

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا.

Final Report of Investigation into Cultural Heritage Destruction during the Islamic State's Genocide against the Yazidis

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 09:06:35 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

November 15, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Seán Fobbe

+49 89 716 714 45

legal@rashid-international.org

Seven years after the beginning of the 2014 genocide committed by the Islamic State against the Êzidîs (‘Yazidis’ or ‘Yezidis’) the final report of a joint investigation conducted by RASHID International, Yazda and the Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa Project (EAMENA) has been released. The results were published in Volume 5 of the peer-reviewed Asian Yearbook of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (AYHR), an international human rights periodical edited by Professor Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran.

International attention concerning the genocide has generally focused on murder, slavery and sexual exploitation. We analyzed the destruction of Êzidî tangible and intangible cultural heritage as a significant facet of the Islamic State’s policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Evidence of destruction is collected and presented in context with other criminal acts.

The Êzidî are an endogamous community at home in northern Iraq for whom faith and ethnic belonging are inextricably linked. Belief in God and Tawûsê Malek (the highest angel), and reverence for Lalish as the holiest place on earth are the defining features of the Êzidî faith. Historic and sacred places are an essential part of the Êzidî identity and are considered vital to life by the local population. The Islamic State made no secret of its intention to eradicate the Êzidî community and commenced a policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide on 3 August 2014. All victims were abused and tortured. Male Êzidîs above the age of 12 were killed. Female Êzidîs were enslaved and traded in a complex and public network of sexual slavery. Boys were trained in ISIS camps and militarized. Those who fled to Mount Sinjar were besieged in order to ensure death from starvation, thirst and the blazing sun. Bases of economic support, such as olive groves and irrigation wells, were systematically destroyed and many areas of the Êzidî homeland were sown with landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to prevent the population from returning.

The peer-reviewed AYHR publication provides original research, evidence and context on the destruction of Êzidî tangible cultural heritage in the Bahzani/Bashiqa and Sinjar areas of northern Iraq. We present satellite imagery analysis conducted by the EAMENA project, drawing on data provided by Êzidî representatives. According to the Department of Yazidi Affairs in the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs in the Kurdistan Regional Government 68 Êzidî sites were destroyed by the Islamic State. We consider 16 sites in the Bahzani/Bashiqa area and 8 in the Sinjar area to which access was possible and which could be documented.

The destruction of cultural heritage sites is most often considered a war crime. Several convictions by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the conviction of Malian Islamist Al-Mahdi by the International Criminal Court (ICC) are well-known. However, heritage destruction may also be prosecuted as the crime of persecution, a crime against humanity. Numerous indictments and convictions before international courts attest to the viability of this approach. Finally, grounded in explicit case law of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), destruction of tangible heritage also serves as evidence of the special intent to destroy a protected group under the crime of genocide.

We conclude that the destruction of the cultural heritage of the Êzidî people constituted a war crime, a crime against humanity (persecution) and compelling evidence of genocidal intent. We recommend the consideration of cultural heritage destruction in any prosecution of atrocity crimes, especially the crime of genocide.

Download press release h ere .

Online Availability:
The final report is intended to be read in conjunction with the original 2019 report, which includes extensive ground imagery and site descriptions to provide additional context.

2021 Final Article (peer-reviewed, subscription required): https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004466180_006
2021 Manuscript (peer-reviewed, open access): https://zenodo.org/record/5595882
2019 Original Report (open access): https://doi.org/10.5281/zeno do.3826125

Example Citation :

Fobbe, Seán, Natia Navrouzov, Kristen Hopper, Ahmed Khudida Burjus, Graham Philip, Maher G Nawaf, Daniel Lawrence, Helen Walasek, Sara Birjandian, Majid Hassan Ali, Salim Rashidani, Hassan Salih, Dawood Sulaiman Qari, and Faris Mishko. ‘Cultural Heritage Destruction during the Islamic State’s Genocide against the Yazidis’. In The Asian Yearbook of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (pp. 111-144). Brill Nijhoff. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004466180_006

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Founded in 2014 at the onset of the genocide perpetuated by Da’esh, also known as Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidis, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity against other minorities, Yazda leads advocacy and strategic projects in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains, as well as global diaspora hubs.

We work hand-in-hand with our partners, including United Nations agencies, key donor governments, the Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Governments, and instrumental community organizations to ensure justice, accountability, and a sustainable future for all is swiftly reached. We are fervently determined to ensure Never Again, so that no community and people ever face genocide.

RASHID International is a worldwide network of archaeologists and cultural heritage experts dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the cultural heritage of Iraq, ancient Mesopotamia. To assist our Iraqi colleagues, we collect and share information, research and expert knowledge, work to raise public awareness, and both develop and execute strategies to protect heritage sites and other cultural property through international cooperation, advocacy and technical assistance.

We are registered as a non-profit organisation in Germany and enjoys charitable tax-exempt status under German law. We are an organisation in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2019.

www.rashid-international.org

The EAMENA Project rapidly records and evaluates the status of the archaeological landscape of the MENA region in order to create an accessible body of data which can be used by national and international heritage professionals to target those sites most in danger and better plan and implement the preservation and protection of this heritage. The EAMENA project is a collaboration between the Universities of Oxford, Leicester and Durham in the United Kingdom and is supported by the Arcadia Fund and the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund.

www.eamena.org

Fifth conviction of an ISIS member in Germany for crimes against humanity committed against the Yazidis

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 15:43:40 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

October 25, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Natia Navrouzov

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Amal Clooney and German lawyers Natalie von Wistinghausen and Wolfgang Bendler represent the Yazidi victim who participated in the case as a co-plaintiff.

Today, the Higher Regional Court of Munich convicted a German ISIS member for her involvement in the enslavement, abuse and killing of a five-year-old Yazidi girl as well as the enslavement and abuse of the child’s mother in Fallujah, Iraq. The 30-year-old woman known as ‘Jennifer W.’ was found guilty of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity through enslavement, attempted murder and aiding and abetting the war crime of attempted murder by omission, and membership in a foreign terrorist organization. The Chamber of 5 judges sentenced the defendant to 10 years in prison.

The judges found that the defendant travelled to Syria in late August 2014 and later married Iraqi national Taha A.-J. . Together the couple moved to Fallujah, where they held captive a Yazidi woman and her 5-year-old daughter, Rania, for approximately 6 weeks. They were subjected to almost daily beatings which the defendant often instigated. The defendant and her husband forced the Yazidi mother to do housework and both she and her daughter were forced to pray even though the couple knew that the captives were Yazidis.

In the summer of 2015, the defendant’s husband tied Rania to the window grid outside the house, in 45 degrees Celsius heat, as a punishment for wetting the mattress. The defendant and her husband let Rania hang there in the scorching summer sun and she died. Although the defendant had realised that Rania was in a life-threatening situation and would have been able to help, she did nothing to save her.

By late June 2018, the defendant was back in Germany but intended to leave to return to Syria. She was intercepted by an undercover agent working for the German federal police who recorded her discussing the death of her “sabiya” - meaning slave - which then led to further investigations, and ultimately a trial starting in 2019.

Jennifer W. is believed to be the first ISIS member who was put on trial anywhere in the world for international crimes committed against Yazidi victims. Employees of the Yazidi NGO Yazda identified the child’s mother, who was then represented by her lawyers Natalie von Wistinghausen, Amal Clooney and Wolfgang Bendler. She was the main witness at trial and testified over 11 trial days before the court. Other relevant evidence that the court based its judgment on included incriminating statements made by the defendant to an undercover agent, forensic expert evidence regarding the child’s death and other expert evidence establishing that ISIS’ goal was to eradicate the Yazidi population.

The child’s mother was present in the courtroom when the judgment was finally handed down. In response to the verdict, she said: “It was very difficult for me to hear the verdict today. All the memories came flooding back. I am glad that after six years the German court determined that the defendant is responsible for my daughter’s death, but no sentence in the world will bring her back”.

Victim’s counsel Ama l Cloo ney commented: “This judgment constitutes the fifth conviction of an ISIS member in a German court for crimes against humanity committed against Yazidi victims. It is a significant milestone for my client, a remarkably brave woman who lost her child in brutal conditions. And it is a victory for everyone who believes in justice. I am grateful to the German prosecutors for bringing this case and I hope that we will see a more concerted global effort to bring ISIS to justice”.

Natalie von Wistinghausen, who represented the victim during the court hearings in Munich added that: “This judgement also contributes to the accountability of German nationals before their own courts for crimes committed in Iraq in the course of ISIS’ campaign against the Yazidi in which they willingly participated. No one should be able to run away from criminal responsibility for such serious crimes, even when committed abroad”.

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director at global Yazidi NGO Yazda, which is also represented by Ms. Clooney and has helped identify and locate victims in several criminal proceedings in different jurisdictions, said: “This conviction will mean a lot to ISIS survivors especially the ones who have shared their statements with us in the hope that they will see justice one day. It is also very encouraging for our organisation that has been tirelessly collecting evidence since the first months of the Yazidi genocide, including through interviews of more than 2,000 Yazidi survivors so far. We commend Germany for its leadership in prosecuting ISIS crimes and ask other States to follow the same example because the story of the survivor in this case is one of many others who have also suffered. They wish to face their perpetrators one day in a court room and it is our responsibility not to disappoint them. Today our thoughts are with the survivor in this case and we hope that the judgement will show her that the world cares about her suffering. The road to healing is long but we hope that it can somehow start for her today”.

Note to editors:

Jennifer W’s husband Taha A.-J. is on trial before the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt, in the first genocide trial against an ISIS member. The main witness and co-plaintiff in the case against Jennifer W is also the co-plaintiff in the trial against Taha A.-J. where she is represented by Amal Clooney, Natalie von Wistinghausen and Jörg Oesterle. The Taha A.-J. trial is still ongoing, with a judgment currently expected at the end of November 2021.

German courts have previously also convicted ISIS returnees Nurten J. , Sarah O. and Omaima A. of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity committed against Yazidis. Amal Clooney, Natalie von Wistinghausen and Sonka Mehner represented the victim participating as a co-plaintiff in these trials.

Under German law, victims of grave crimes have the right to participate in criminal proceedings as ‘co-plaintiffs’ alongside the prosecution and defence.

The victim is part of a witness protection program. For the victim’s safety, her identity cannot be revealed.

German law also does not permit disclosure of defendants’ full surnames.

Download press release here .

For Arabic version, click here .

For German version, click here .

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Founded in 2014 at the onset of the genocide perpetuated by Da’esh, also known as Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidis, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity against other minorities, Yazda leads advocacy and strategic projects in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains, as well as global diaspora hubs.

إدانة عنصرٍ خامس من داعش في ألمانيا لإرتكابه جرائم ضد الإنسانية بحق الأيزيديين.

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 13:06:30 GMT

ناتيا نوروزوف

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

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البريد الإلكتروني:

٢٥ تِشْرين الأوَّل ٢٠٢١

٢ ٥ تِشْرين الأوَّل ٢٠٢١

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امل كلوني والمحاميتان الألمانيتان ناتالي فون فيستينغهاوزن و ولفغانغ بيدلر تمثلن الضحية الأيزيدية التي شاركت كطرف في القضية.

أليوم، أدانت المحكمة الإقليمية العليا في ميونخ أحد عناصر داعش لمشاركتها في إستعباد وإيذاء وقتل طفلة أيزيدية ذات خمس سنوات كما استعبدت وأذت والدة الطفلة في مدينة الفلوجة-العراق. المرأة ذات ال30 سنة من العمر المعروفة ب ‘جينيفر دبليو‘ أدينت لمساعدتها وتحريضها على جرائم ضد الإنسانية من خلال الإستعباد، محاولات قتل، و المساعدة والتحريض على إرتكاب جريمة الحرب بالإغفال والإنضمام إلى منظمة إرهابية أجنبية. حكمت لجنة القضاة على المدعى عليها بالسجن عشر سنوات.

توصل القضاة إلى أن المدعى عليها قد سافرت إلى سوريا في أواخر شهر آب في عام 2014 وتزوجت لاحقاً من العراقي الجنسية طه أ.ج. إنتقل الزوجان معاً إلى فلوجة حيث قاما بأسر إمرأة أيزيدية مع طفلتها، رنين، ذات الخمسة سنوات لما يقارب ستة أسابيع. كانتا تتعرضان للضرب كل يوم تقريباً وكانت المدعى عليها هي من تحرض على ذلك. أجبرت المدعى عليها و زوجها المرأة على القيام بأعمال المنزل، و كلاهما؛ هي وإبنتها أُجبرتا على الصلاة رغم أن الزوجان كانا يعلمان بأن الأسيرتين كانتا أيزيديتين.

في صيف عام 2015، ربط زوج المدعى عليها رنين بشباك النافذة خارج المنزل تحت درجة بلغت 45 مئوية كعقوبة لها لتبليلها الفراش. تركت المدعى عليها و زوجها رنين معلقة هناك تحت شمس الصيف الحارقة وماتت. رغم أن المدعى عليها كانت قد أدركت بأن رنين كانت في وضع يهدد الحياة وكان بإمكانها تقديم المساعدة إلا أنها لم تفعل شيئاً لإنقاذها.

في أواخر شهر حزيران/يوليو عام 2018، كانت المدعى عليها قد عادت إلى ألمانيا ولكنها كانت تنوي المغادرة والعودة إلى سوريا. تم اعتراضها من قبل عميل سري يخدم في الشرطة الفيدرالية الألمانية والذي سجل صوتها وهي تناقش موت سبيتها/أسيرتها مما أدى إلى المزيد من التحقيقات، وبدء المحاكمة في عام 2019 في نهاية المطاف

يُعتقد بأن جنيفر دبليو، هي أول عنصر من داعش تتم محاكمته في العالم لإرتكابه جرائم دولية ضد ضحايا أيزيديين. تعرف موظفين من منظمة يزدا على والدة الطفلة لتمثلها بعد ذلك كلٌّ من ، ناتالي فون فيستينغهاوزن ، أمل كلوني، و ولفغانغ بيدلر. كانت هي الشاهد الرئيسي في المحاكمة وقدمت إفادتها ل11 يوماً للمحاكمة أمام المحكمة. الدلائل الأخرى ذات الصلة والتي إعتمدتها المحكمة في إصدار حكمها تضمنت إفادات تجريمية أدلت بها المدعى عليها للعميل السري، دلائل جنائية متعلقة بموت الطفلة وأدلة أخرى للخبراء تؤكد بأن هدف داعش كان محو الشعب الأيزيدي

كانت والدة الطفل حاضرة في قاعة المحكمة عندما تم اصدار قرار الحكم أخيراً. و قالت رداً على الحكم, "كان سماع الحكم في غاية الصعوبة بالنسبة لي. قد عادت جميع الذكريات من جديد. أنا سعيدة لقيام المحكمة الألمانية بتحميل المدعى عليها مسؤولية موت إبنتي بعد مرور ست سنوات,و لكن ليس هنالك حكم في العالم يعيدها إلى الحياة مرة اخرى

قد اضافت أمل كلوني بوصفها محامية للضحية تعليقاً مفاداه: "هذا الحكم يشكل الإدانة الخامسة لأحد عناصر داعش في محكمة ألمانية بسبب جرائم ضد الإنسانية مرتكبة بحق الضحايا الأيزيديين. انه انجاز هام لموكلتي, امرأة شجاعة فقدت طفلتها تحت ظروف وحشية. انه كذلك نصر لأي شخص يؤمن بالعدالة. أنا ممتنة للمدعيين العاميين الألمان لجلب هذه القضية وأتمنى أن يكون هناك جهد عالمي مشترك أكبر لجلب داعش إلى العدالة".

أضافت ناتالي فون فيستينغهاوزن التي مثلت الضحية في جلسات المحكمة ما يلي: "يساهم هذا الحكم في مساءلة المواطنين الألمان أمام محاكهم عن الجرائم المرتكبة في العراق خلال حملة داعش التي شاركوا بها بإرادتهم ضد الأيزيديين. لا يجب أن يتمكن أحد من الهروب من المسؤولية الجنائية لجرائم خطيرة كهذه, حتى عند إرتكابها في الخارج.

ناتيا نافارازوف, مديرة قسم المناصرة القانونية لدى يزدا, المنظمة الأيزيدية العالمية الغير حكومية التي قامت أمل كلوني بتمثيلها أيضاً, وقامت ناتيا بتحديد هوية الضحايا وأماكن سكنهم في عدة إجراءات جنائية وفي سلطات قضائية مختلفة, قالت ناتيا ما يلي: "هذه الإدانة سوف تعني الكثير للناجيات من أسر داعش واللاتي قمن بالإدلاء بإفاداتهن لنا على وجه الخصوص وعلى أمل ان يأتي يوم يرون فيه العدالة. انه كذلك تشجيع كبير لمنظمتنا التي تقوم بجمع الأدلة بلا كلل منذ الأشهر الأولى من الإبادة الايزيدية, بما في ذلك إجراء أكثر من 2,000 مقابلة مع الناجيين والناجيات الأيزيديين إلى الآن. ونشيد بألمانيا لقيادتها في محاكمة جرائم داعش وكذلك نطالب الدول الأخرى على أن تحذو المثل نفسه لأن قصة الناجية في هذه القضية هي واحدة من القصص الكثيرة لناجيات أخريات عانين أيضاً. أمنيتهن مواجهة مرتكبي الجرائم بحقهن في قاعة المحكمة يوماً ما و مسؤوليتنا هي عدم خيبة أملهن في ذلك. اليوم أفكارنا مع قضية هذه الناجية ونأمل ان الحكم سيظهر لها ان العالم مهتم بمعاناتها. الطريق إلى الشفاء طويل ولكننا نأمل ان تبدأ هي بالشفاء منذ اليوم".

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا.

للنسخة الألمانية، اضغط هنا.

ملاحظة للمحررين:

طه أ-ج, زوج جينيفر دبليو. الذي يخضع للمحاكمة الآن أمام المحكمة الأقليمية العليا لمدينة فرانكفورد كأول محاكمة إبادة جماعية ضد أحد عناصر داعش. الشاهدة الرئيسية ومقدمة الدعوى في القضية المقامة ضد جينيفر دبليو. هي نفسها التي قامت بتقديم الدعوى في محاكمة طه أ. ج. التي تمثلها أمل كلوني وناتالي فون فيستينغهاوزن و جورك اوستيرلي. وما زالت محاكمة طه أ. ج. مستمرة مع وجود حكم متوقع في نهاية شهر تشرين الثاني لسنة 2021.

وقد سبق للمحاكم الألمانية أن أدانت كل من " نورتن ج " " وسارة او " " وأميمة اي " العائدات من صفوف داعش بتهمة المساعدة والتحريض على ارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية بحق الإيزيديين. مَثلت كل من أمل كلوني وناتالي فون فيستينغهاوزن وسونكا مينو الضحية كمدعية مشتركة مشاركة في هذه المحاكم.

بموجب القانون الألماني، لضحايا الجرائم الجسيمة حق المشاركة في الإجراءات الجنائية كمدعين مشاركين جنباً الى جنب الإدعاء والدفاع.

الضحية جزء من برنامج حمایة الشھود. من أجل سلامة الضحية، لا یمكن الكشف عن ھویتها.

لا يسمح القانون الألماني بالكشف عن الألقاب الكاملة للمتھمین.

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فرنسا: اقرت المحكمة العليا بالتهم الموجهة ضد شركة لافارج المتعددة الجنسيات لتواطئها في جرائم ضد الإنسانية ارتكبها داعش

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:01:50 GMT

ناتيا نوروزوف

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

إتصل:

هاتف:

البريد الإلكتروني:

٨ أيلول ٢٠٢١

٧ أيلول ٢٠٢١

٨ أيلول ٢٠٢١

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باريس ، فرنسا - في حكم رائد صدر اليوم، وافقت المحكمة العليا الفرنسية على الاتهامات الصادرة بحق شركة الأسمنت الفرنسية Holcim SA ('Lafarge') Lafarge المتعددة الجنسيات كالتواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية وتمويل الاعمال إلارهابية التي ارتكبتها الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام ('داعش') ومجاميع مسلحة أخرى في سوريا.

تمثل هذه القضية المرة الأولى التي يتم فيها اتهام شركة فرنسية متعددة الجنسيات بالتواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية عن ارتكاب خروقات في مجال حقوق الإنسان في الخارج.

وبحسب الاتهامات الموجهة ، دفعت لافارج ملايين الدولارات لداعش والمجاميع المسلحة الأخرى وتاجرت بالمواد الخام معهم أيضاً أثناء تشغيلها لمصنع أسمنت على الحدود الشمالية لسوريا مع تركيا خلال الحرب الأهلية السورية. هذه الأعمال استمرت على الأقل حتى صيف عام 2014 ، حيث كانت لافارج على دراية تامة بجرائم داعش والجماعات المسلحة الأخرى المستمرة في سوريا والعراق.

في تشرين الثاني 2019 ، أكدت محكمة الاستئناف في باريس سلسلة من الاتهامات الجنائية الموجهة الى لافارج وبعض مديريها التنفيذيين وموظفيها السابقين بتمويل الإرهاب، لكنها رفضت تهم التواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية. وقد طعن الضحايا الايزيديون وكذلك لافارج ومتهمون آخرون في هذا الحكم.

اليوم ، فتحت المحكمة العليا الفرنسية الطريق أمام محاكمة جنائية من خلال تأييد تهم تمويل الإرهاب ورفض إبطال التهم بارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية.

فيما يتعلق بتهمة تمويل الإرهاب ، فإن الحكم الصادر اليوم يؤكد على ما يلي:

"تمت دعوة لافارج والشركات التابعة لها للتفاوض مع داعش والجماعات الإرهابية الأخرى ولو بشكل غير مباشر من أجل الحفاظ على التدفقات اللوجستية"

كان هذا الدعم كافياً ليصنف كجريمة تمويل الإرهاب ، حيث أن الطبيعة الإجرامية لأنشطة داعش كانت معروفة لدى المتهمين.

فيما يتعلق بالتواطؤ في ارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية ، أشارت الدائرة الجنائية للمحكمة العليا إلى أن قضاة المحاكمة برهنوا كفاية على انه:

"أولاً، موَلت شركة لافارج عبر الشركات التابعة لها بعدة ملاين من الدولارات لأنشطة داعش ، وثانيًا ، كانت لديها معرفة دقيقة بأفعال التنظيم ، والتي من المحتمل أن تشكل جرائم ضد الإنسانية"

وبالتالي ، يجب إعادة توجيه تهم التواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية.

ستستأنف التحقيقات الآن من قبل قضاة التحقيق والمدعي العام في المساعدة المالية والمادية المزعومة التي قدمتها شركة لافارج إلى داعش والجماعات الإرهابية الأخرى في سوريا أثناء الحرب الأهلية.

عَلقت ناتيا نافروزوف مديرة المناصرة القانونية في يزدا رداً على الحكم بما يلي:

"هذا القرار غير مسبوق بالفعل وسيكون رسالة واضحة لكل من الشركات والضحايا: لا أحد فوق القانون وتطبق العدالة على جميع الاشخاص والجهات والشركات. أما بالنسبة للجناة يجب أن تواجه الشركات القضاء وأن تحاسب على الجرائم التي ارتكبتها. يسرت اعمال لافارج ضررًا لا يمكن تصوره ، بما في ذلك الاستعباد الجنسي والتعذيب ، الذي تسبب به داعش بحق مئات من الناجيات الايزيديات اللواتي تم الاتجار بهن واحتجازهن في سوريا ، على بعد بضعة كيلومترات فقط من مصنع الأسمنت. أقل ما يمكن أن تفعله لافارج الآن هو تحمل المسؤولية وتعويض الضحايا ".

علقت المحامية أمل كلوني, محامية الضحايا ويزدا بما يلي:

"يُعد حكم اليوم الصادر عن المحكمة العليا الفرنسية خطوة كبيرة إلى الأمام لضحايا الجرائم التي ارتكبها داعش وللناجين الذين يكافحون لكي تأخذ العدالة مجراها في جميع أنحاء العالم. في حكم تاريخي ، أكدت المحكمة الفرنسية العليا أنه إذا كانت الشركات متواطئة في جرائم شنيعة ، فيجب عليها أن تواجه المحاكمة. على الشركات أن تأخذ في الاعتبار ما يلي: إذا كانت متواطئة في انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان ، فسوف تتم محاسبتها ويحق للضحايا الحصول على تعويضات ".

علق راشيل ليندون ولوك فيدال ، المحامي الفرنسي لضحايا الإيزيديين ومنظمة يزدا:

"يعد هذا القرارإنجازاً بارزاً لأعلى هيئة قضائية في فرنسا وقضاة غرفة الجنايات الذين أكدوا من خلال التطبيق الصارم للقانون ، أنه لن يتم السماح بتقديم أي مساعدة من أي نوع للجماعات الإرهابية و مرتكبي جرائم الإبادة الجماعية تحت حكم القانون الفرنسي. هذا القرارهو انتصار للأيزيديين وسكان آخرين اضطهدوا وتضرروا من داعش والجماعات الإرهابية التي كانت تنشط في سوريا. كما أنه انتصار للقانون الجنائي والعدالة الدولية ككل ".

كاثرين باور فيولاس هي المستشارة أمام المحكمة الفرنسية العليا ومحامية الضحايا الذين يمثلون أطرافًا مدنية في هذه القضية. ويمثل هؤلاء الضحايا كل من لوك فيدال وليفا موندون من سيجنا بارتنرز ، وأمل كلوني ، ونيكولاس أنجليت ، وإميلي جونين من دوتي ستريت تشامبرز ، وراشيل ليندون ، وماتيلد أوبلي من ليندون و روهان شابوت ، والبروفيسور باسكال بوفيز (كلية الحقوق في جامعة السوربون ، بانثيون).

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.
للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا.

للنسخة الفرنسية، اضغط هنا.

ملاحظة للمحررين:

منظمة يزدا غير الحكومية تدعم الناجين وتوثق الجرائم التي ارتكبها داعش منذ أكثر من سبع سنوات. ساعدت يزدا في التعرف على هويات الضحايا وتحديد مكان إقامتهم ودعمهم في الإجراءات الجنائية في ولايات قضائية متعددة حول العالم.

تُعرف المحكمة الفرنسية العليا باسم محكمة النقض (Cour de Cassation).

وفقًا للمادة 121-2 من القانون الجنائي الفرنسي ، يمكن تحميل الأشخاص الاعتباريين مسؤولية الجرائم المرتكبة على حسابهم من قبل أي من ممثليهم أو أجهزتهم.

في هذه المرحلة ، قامت المحكمة العليا بتقييم ما إذا كان هنالك "أدلة جادة أو مؤيدة" ضد لافارج وفقًا للمادة 80-1 من قانون الإجراءات الجنائية الفرنسية ، مما يجعل من المحتمل أن يكونوا قد تورطوا في ارتكاب الجرائم المنسوبة إليهم ، بما في ذلك تمويل الإرهاب والتواطؤ في جرائم ضد الإنسانية وتعريض حياة الآخرين للخطرعمداً (وبالتحديد حياة موظفي لافارج السوريين) وكذلك المخالفات الجمركية.

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France: Supreme Court Approves Charges Against Multinational Company Lafarge for Complicity in Crimes Against Humanity by ISIS

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 10:06:46 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

September 8, 2021

September 7, 2021

September 8, 2021

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Natia Navrouzov

+964 751 864 1407

natia.navrouzov@yazda.org

Paris, France – In a ground-breaking judgment rendered today, the French Supreme Court approved the indictments of the French multinational cement company LafargeHolcim SA (‘Lafarge’) for complicity in crimes against humanity and financing of terrorism committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (‘ISIS’) and other armed groups in Syria.

This case represents the first time a French multinational corporation has been charged with complicity in crimes against humanity for human rights abuses committed abroad.

According to the indictments, Lafarge made multimillion-dollar payments to ISIS and other armed groups and traded raw materials with them while it operated a cement plant on Syria’s northern border with Turkey during the Syrian civil war. These acts took place, at least until the summer of 2014, with Lafarge being fully aware of ISIS and other armed groups' on-going crimes in Syria and Iraq.

In November 2019, the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the criminal indictments against Lafarge and some of its former executives and employees, for financing of terrorism but dismissed charges of complicity in crimes against humanity. This judgment was challenged by Yazidi victims as well as Lafarge and other defendants.

Today, France’s Supreme Court cleared the way for a criminal trial, by both upholding the charges of financing terrorism and quashing the annulment of the charges of crimes against humanity.

Regarding the charge of financing terrorism, the judgment rendered today underlines that:

“Lafarge and its local subsidiary were called upon to negotiate, albeit indirectly, with ISIS or other terrorist groups in order to maintain logistical flows” and that this support was sufficient to constitute the criminal offence of financing of terrorism, since the criminal nature of ISIS’ activities was well known to the defendants.

Regarding complicity for crimes against humanity, the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court noted that the trial judges had sufficiently demonstrated:

“Firstly that Lafarge had financed, via its subsidiaries, ISIS activities to the tune of several million dollars, and secondly, that it had precise knowledge of the actions of the organisation, which were likely to constitute crimes against humanity” and therefore, that the charges of complicity in crimes against humanity should be reinstated.

The investigations by the examining judges and the public prosecutor into the alleged financial and material assistance provided by Lafarge to ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria during the civil war will now resume.

In response to the judgment, Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director at Yazda, commented that:

“This decision is truly ground-breaking and will send a clear message to both companies and victims: no one is above the law and justice applies to all types of actors, individuals or corporations. As for individual perpetrators, companies should face cumulative prosecution and be charged for the full extent of the crimes committed. Lafarge’s actions facilitated unimaginable harm, including sexual enslavement and torture, inflicted by ISIS to hundreds of Yazidi survivors trafficked and held captive in Syria, only a few kilometres from the cement plant. The least Lafarge can do now is to take responsibility and compensate the victims.”

Barrister and victims’ counsel, as well as Yazda counsel Amal Clooney commented that:

“Today’s judgment by the French Supreme Court is a huge step forward for victims of crimes committed by ISIS and for survivors all over the world fighting for justice. In a historic judgment, the French Supreme Court has confirmed that if corporations are complicit in heinous crimes, they must answer to a court. Corporations should take note: if they are complicit in human rights violations they will be held to account and victims will be entitled to reparations.”

Rachel Lindon and Luke Vidal, French counsel for the Yazidi victims and Yazda organisation commented that:

“This decision is a landmark to be put to the credit of France’s highest judicial body and the judges of its Criminal Chamber, who, by a strict application of law, have confirmed that no assistance of any kind to terrorist and genocidal criminal groups shall be tolerated under the French rule of law. This decision is a victory for the Yazidis as well as all other populations persecuted and harmed by ISIS and terrorist groups that were active in Syria. It is also a victory for criminal law and international justice as a whole”.

The counsel and advocate before the French Supreme Court for the victims that are civil parties in this case was Catherine Bauer Violas. These victims are represented by Luke Vidal and Lefa Mondon of Sygna Partners, Amal Clooney, Nicolas Angelet and Emilie Gonin of Doughty Street Chambers, Rachel Lindon and Mathilde Aublé of Lindon & Rohan Chabot, and Professor Pascal Beauvais (Sorbonne Law School, Panthéon - Sorbonne University).

Download press release here .

For an Arabic version of this press release, please click he re .

For a French version, please click here .

Note to editors:

Yazda is an NGO that has been supporting survivors and documenting crimes committed by ISIS for more than seven years. Yazda has helped to identify, locate and support victims in criminal proceedings in multiple jurisdictions around the world.

The French Supreme Court is known as the Cour de Cassation.

According to article 121-2 of the French Criminal Code legal persons may be held liable for criminal offenses committed on their account by any of their representatives or organs.

At this stage the Supreme Court assessed if according to article 80-1 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure “serious or corroborating evidence” existed against Lafarge making it likely that they may have been involved in the commission of the indicted offences, including financing terrorism, complicity in crimes against humanity, deliberately endangering the lives of others (namely those of Lafarge’s Syrian employees) and customs offence.

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Founded in 2014 at the onset of the genocide perpetuated by Da’esh, also known as Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidis, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity against other minorities, Yazda leads advocacy and strategic projects in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains, as well as global diaspora hubs.

Yazidi Leaders & Global Diplomats Call for Multi-Stakeholder Action Plan for Sinjar

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:25:56 GMT

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August 3, 2020

August 5, 2020

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Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

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Joining forces with an action plan for Sinjar

In his welcoming speech, His Excellency Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Kurdistan stated that, “Da’esh systematic attacks against the Yazidis still shock us today. And beyond our shock, we should seek justice and find an inclusive and peaceful future for the next generation of Yazidis.” He added, “We will continue to provide humanitarian assistance for Yazidis.”

In turn, Mr. David Mandel Anthony, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Global Criminal Justice at the U.S. Department of State delivered a speech explaining: “In 2016, the Secretary of State made a declaration that ISIS was responsible for crimes against humanity.” He concluded, “We continue our efforts to facilitate the return of displaced people, which is an important part of accountability, to help the return of displaced Yazidis.” He also called for restarting the exhumation of mass graves in Sinjar.

Enabling security and equitability

In turn, Her Excellency Administrator Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) stated, “It is a great honor to address the Yazda community and the Yazidi survivors to help them find justice.” She added that the “USA has encouraged the Iraqi government to prosecute the crimes of genocide.” She also urged the Iraqi government for the full inclusion of Yazidis in implementing the Sinjar Agreement.

Her Excellency Canadian Member of Parliament Michelle Rempel Garner declared, “The international community failed to protect the Yazidi people.” She concluded by saying: “Justice means more than just prosecution. Action starts with political will.”

The second panel of this year’s commemoration recommended potential paths for the rebuilding of Sinjar to give way for a sustainable future for minorities. Panelist Dr. Ali Al Bayati, Member of the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, explained, “It is important to take institutional reforms to protect minority groups and engage them in participatory decision making.” Ms. Reine Hanna, Director of the Assyrian Policy Institute, stressed the importance of “prioritizing civil society groups that are authentic decision makers, and that should be included in the dialogue, to collectively ensure services and investments for Sinjar.”

Survivors of ISIL captivity call for a safe and sustainable future

Members of the Yazda Yazidi Survivors’ Network also spoke at the annual commemoration, on behalf of Yazidi women survivors. Ms. Zena Haji advocated for the rights of survivors of Yazidi and minority communities stating, “There should be a full inclusion of representatives from all minority groups – especially survivors of ISIL captivity – in all decision-making and governance processes that will determine the sustainable, safe, and prosperous future of all communities in the area.”

On the many delays facing the re-development of Sinjar, Ms. Zinah Khallat Sulaiman stressed, “We have the right to search the fate of Yazidi women and children who are still missing, allowing families of victims to bury their loved ones properly and achieve some closure, while also ensuring comprehensive safeguarding and documentation of all evidence of genocide.”

In turn, Ms. Lynn Zovighian, Co-founder & Managing Director, The Zovighian Partnership stated, “Yazidis do not only need basic services. They need to be empowered to be productive communities to be able to give back to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.” She also explained that housing in Sinjar must be co-defined with the Yazidi people, integrating “their voices, their needs, their identity, their unique ways of life, and their socio-cultural and religious fabric that makes them community.”

Reconciliation programs to ensure peaceful cohabitation in Sinjar

In his concluding remarks, Sheikh Dr. Anas Al-Esawi, Imam and Preacher at Gilani Mosque, stressed the need of “designing reconciliation programs in consultation with all minority communities to ensure effective, feasible, and peaceful cohabitation in Sinjar amongst all communities and groups to ensure peaceful cohabitation in Sinjar.” He also called for recognizing these atrocities and prosecuting the criminals.

His Excellency Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Iraq, Ulric Shannon said, “Responding requires action on many fronts including humanitarian support, rebuilding homes and justice and accountability.”

Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans closed the commemoration by calling for interfaith dialogue and actionable steps to urgently resolve key challenges facing the chronically displaced Yazidi and minority communities of Sinjar, stating, “We need to consolidate our efforts, because “strength is in unity.”

Download press release here .

For the Arabic version, click h ere .

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Founded in 2014 at the onset of the genocide perpetuated by Da’esh, also known as Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidis, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity against other minorities, Yazda leads advocacy and strategic projects in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains, as well as global diaspora hubs.

The Zovighian Partnership is a family-owned social investment platform, established by father and daughter in 2013. The Zovighian Partnership Public Office is committed to delivering significant resources to bringing grounded methodology, sound governance, and rigorous strategic thinking to communities and cities in crisis. We hold ourselves accountable to giving voice to the diversity of views that are central to long-term and sustainable peace and socio-economic enablement.

www.zovighianpartnership.com

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القادة الإيزيديون والديبلوماسيون العالميون يدعون لتوحيد الجهود من أجل خطة عمل لسنجار

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:16:21 GMT

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اختٌتم المؤتمر الدولي الافتراضي بمناسبة الذكرى السنوية السابعة للإبادة الجماعية للإيزيديين، بعنوان "نحو مستقبل مستدام للإيزيديين والأقليات الأخرى في العراق وإقليم كوردستان"، والتي قامت بتنظيمه منظمة يزدا بالتعاون مع The Zovighian Partnership ، برعاية دولة رئيس الوزراء العراقي مصطفى الكاظمي. في يومه الثاني، استضاف المؤتمر عددًا من المسؤولين من المجتمع الدولي والمسؤولين الوطنيين.

توحيد الجهود من أجل مستقبل مستدام لسنجار

افُتتحت أعمال المؤتمر في يومه الثاني بكلمة ألقاها معالي مصطفى فلاح بكر، ممثًل الرئيس نيجرمان بازارني وكبير مستشاري السياسة الخارجية لرئيس إقليم كردستان الذي أعرب عن التزامه بدعم الناجين الإيزيديين. وقال إن "الضربات الممنهجة من قبل داعش ما زالت تصدمنا ليومنا هذا". وأضاف أنه "من واجبنا توحيد الجهود لإيجاد خطة عمل لمستقبل مستدام للإيزيديين."

كما قال مدير مكتب العدالة الجنائيّة العالميّة بالنيابة السيّد ديفيد مانديل-أنطوني أن مكتبه يقوم بتسهيل عودة اللاجئين إلى بلادهم، لأن ذلك يشكل الخطوة الأولى لتحقيق العدالة والمساءلة. وتحدث عن الخطوة الإيجابية التي تمًت بإقرار قانون الناجين الإيزيديين داعيًا للالتزام بتطبيقه. وختم قائلًا: "لا يمكن معالجة المعاناة من خلال العدالة الجنائية إنما يجب الكشف عن المقابر الجماعية وتحديد عددها ودفن الرفات."

إجراءات عاجلة لتفعيل الأمن وإرساء العدالة

بدورها، تحدثت سعادة السفيرة سمانثا باور وقالت إن "الشفاء من الإبادة يكون من خلال المساءلة والعدالة"، ودعت إلى "الحاجة الملحة لإرساء الأمن والأمان في سنجار لتأمين العودة الآمنة للإيزيديين." وقالت أن الولايات المتحدة قد شجعت حكومة العراق على محاكمة الجرائم ضد الإنسانية، ودعتهم إلى إدماج الإيزيديين في تقرير مصيرهم.

بدورها، ألقت السيّدة النائبة ميشيل ريمبل غارنر، عضو في البرلمان الكندي، كلمة قالت فيها أن "المجتمع الدولي قد فشل في حماية الإيزيديين." كما دعت إلى إدانة المرتكبين مضيفة: "العدالة تبدأ بمحاكمة المرتكبين ولا تكتمل إلا بالقرار السياسي بالإقرار بالمحاكمات.”

بدوره، شارك الدكتور علي البياتي، عضو اللجنة العراقية العليا لحقوق الانسان، في حلقات النقاش، وقال: "من المهم إجراء إصلاحات مؤسسية لحماية الأقليات وإشراكهم في صنع القرار التشاركي." كما دعا إلى ضرورة " تفعيل الأمن والأمان والتمكين الإداري للجماعات التي كانت ضحايا لأعمال العنف. أما السيًدة رين حنا، مديرة معهد السياسة الأشورية، فتحدثت عن ضرورة "إشراك منظمات المجتمع الدولي في عملية صنع القرار."

ناجيات من العنف يبحثن عن الأمان والعيش الكريم

وكانت كلمات مؤثرة لكل من زينة حجي، وزينة خلات سليمان، أعضاء في شبكة يزدا للناجيات الإيزيديات، اللواتي حدثتنا عن تجاربهن المريرة خلال أسر داعش لهن. فقالت حجي: " يؤسفني القول إن لا شيء إيجابي يدفعني إلى سنجار اليوم. بكل صراحة نحن بحاجة لإعادة الثقة إلينا. ولكن الأهم من ذلك أن نكون جزءًا في صنع القرار أي قرار يخص مناطقنا. نحتاج إلى فعل حقيقي وجهدًا من الجهات المختصة كي نستطيع العودة الى مناطقنا".

أما خلات فقالت " فقدت جميع ما كنت أملكه في غضون ساعات فقط في الثالث من آب 2014. ومازلت إلى يومنا هذا أعيش في استمرار الفقدان هذا حيث أعيش في خيمة صغيرة مع من تبقى معي من أفراد عائلتي في مخيم خانكي للنازحين." وأضافت "يجب أن يكون لدينا جميعًا توضيحات للأحداث التي وقعت قبل ٧ سنوات عندما هاجم تنظيم داعش الإرهابي منطقتنا في سنجار. لذلك من حقنا ان نعلم شيئا عن مصيرهم. لذلك على اللجان المختصة العمل على المقابر الجماعية ورفع الرفات كي نتكلم عن معرفة مصير ذوينا. كما أنه على الحكومتين المركزية وحكومة الاقليم التنسيق سويًا على تفعيل لجنة خاصة للبحث عن المفقودين."

وعليه، قالت السيدة لين زوفيكيان، مؤسسة مشاركة ومديرة إدارية ل ZP أن "الإيزيديين يحتاجون إلى أكثر من إمدادهم بالحاجات الأساسية، بل يطالبون بتفعيل دورهم في المجتمع ليتمكنوا من أن يكونوا منتجين في مجتمعهم." وأوضحت أن “تأمين السكن في سنجار يجب أن يتماشى مع حاجات الإيزيديين، ليستجيب لحاجاتهم، نمط الحياة الذي يمتازون به، وهويتهم بالإضافة إلى النسيج الاجتماعي والثقافي والديني الذي يميَز هذا المجتمع." وختمت مداخلتها بالتوجه بالعزاء إلى أهالي الضحايا، مكررة دعوتها لوضع خطة عمل لتسهيل عودة النازحين الإيزيديين وتأمين العيش الكريم لهم."

التضامن لتفعيل العيش المشترك

في الكلمات الختامية، تحدًث الشيخ الدكتور أنس العيساوي، إمام وخطيب مسجد الجيلاني، على "ضرورة وضع مناهج دراسية تعرًف بالمكونات العراقية المختلفة، لكسر الحاجز أمام مكونات المجتمع العراقي، وخاصة الشباب منه." كما دعا إلى الاعتراف بهذه "الجريمة النكراء ومحاسبة المرتكبين، وتقديم تعويضات معنوية ومادية للضحايا."

بدوره، تحدث سعادة سفير كندا إلى العراق أورليك شانون إلى ضرورة الانتقال من مجرَد التضامن مع الإيزيديين إلى مساعدتهم على الشفاء من خلال التعاون السريع لتحقيق وبسط الاستقرار والوجود المستدام للأقلّيات في العراق وإقليم كردستان العراق. وأضاف أن الاستجابة لمطالب الإيزيديين تتطلب خطة عمل في كافة النواحي بما في ذلك الإدارة العامّة، السلام، الأمن، والمساءلة، وإعادة إعمار سنجار."

في كلمته الختامية، توجَه نيافة الكاردينال لويس روفائيل الأول ساكو، بطيرك بابل للكلدان، إلى الحضور قائلًا " في الوحدة القوة". وأضاف "من الضروري أن نبلور رؤية للمستقبل لإيجاد الآليات للوصول إلى الهدف"، لافتًا إلى ضرورة "العمل بكل جرأة مع شركائنا في الوطن من خلال الجمعيات الخيرية." وختم مداخلته بالقول "بعد زيارة البابا فرنسيس التاريخية إلى العراق، أشدد على حوار الأديان للتعرف إلى الأديان من مصادرها الموثوقة، وتفعيل العيش المشترك."

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا.

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تُعتبر أساسية للسلام الطويل الأجل والمستدام، والتمكين الاجتماعي والاقتصادي.

https://www.zovighianpartnership.com

الأخبار ووسائل الإعلام:
- النهار
الإبادة الإيزيدية: هدف ممنهج من قبل داعش لقتل مجتمع بأكمله.... والعالم يخلَد ذكراها اليوم

سبع سنوات على مرور الإبادة الإيزيدية: تحد َيات ملًحة بمواجهة الإيزيديين التواقين للعودة إلى سنجا

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 13:24:10 GMT

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عقدت يزدا بالتعاون مع The Zovighian Partnership ، مؤتمرًا دوليًا افتراضيًا بمناسبة الذكرى السنوية السابعة للإبادة الجماعية للإيزيديين، بعنوان "نحو مستقبل مستدام للإيزيديين والأقليات الأخرى في العراق وإقليم كوردستان". عالج المؤتمر في يومه الأول القضايا الرئيسية التي تواجه الإيزيديين والأقليات العرقية والدينية العراقية الأخرى اليوم، وذلك برعاية وحضور رئيس وزراء العراق مصطفى الكاظمي، وعدد من المسؤولين من المجتمع الدولي والمسؤولين الوطنيين.

في كلمته الإفتتاحية، قال دولة رئيس الوزراء مصطفى الكاظمي: " نحن ملتزمون بالعمل لإيجاد الحلول من النواحي الخدماتية التي تضمن العودة الآمنة للإيزيديين وتعويض المتضررين، وقد قمنا بوضع برنامج خاص بذلك بالتنسيق مع الجهات المختصة"، لافتًا إلى أنه يتمَ التنسيق بين الوزارات والمؤسسات العراقية في كل ما يتعلَق بإعادة إعمار سنجار، وختم مداخلته بالقول: "آن الأوان لإعادة إعمار سنجار".

في اليوم الأول للمؤتمر، سلًط المتحدثون الضوء على ضرورة التعاون السريع لتحقيق وبسط الاستقرار والوجود المستدام للأقلّيات في العراق وإقليم كوردستان العراق.

في كلمته الافتتاحية، شدَد الأستاذ الياس حيدر، الشريك المؤسّس والرئيس الحالي لمنظّمة يزدا، على أهمية هذه المناسبة، رغم كل الأزمات التي تواجه المنطقة، لافتًا إلى أن "إحياء هذه الذكرى هي رسالة وتذكير للعالم بهذه الإبادة الجماعية التي ارتكبها داعش"، مما أدى إلى قتل واستعباد ونزوح جماعي لمجتمع بأكمله.

خطط لإعادة إعمار سنجار وتمكين كرامة المجتمع

في كلمته، أدان سماحة السيّد عمّار الحكيم، رئيس تحالف قوى الدولة الوطنيّ، السلوك الإرهابي الداعشي والوحشية التي تعرًض لها الإيزيديون. وأشار إلى أن " قسوة ممارسات الإرهاب الداعشي بحق النساء والأطفال تدلَ على عجز هذا التنظيم وانحلاله الخلقي". وأضاف أن "الإسلام السمح، القائم على السلم والأخوة براء من هذه الأعمال والسلوكيات غير الإسلامية".

وختم مداخلته قائلًا: " نؤكد لأهلنا الإيزيديين أننا سنبقى معهم لمعالجة الأضرار النفسية وترميم الأضرار المادية".

تسهيل العودة الآمنة للإيزيديين وتعويض المتضررين

بدورها، شاركت السيّدة سلوى سيدو ناشطة أيزيدّية وعضو في شبكة الناجين الأيزيدّيي (YSN) للدفاع عن حقوق الّناجين من المجتمعات الإيزيدية والأقليات، تجربتها والعنف الجسدي والنفسي التي تعرًضت له. وقالت: "فقدنا الأمل في الحياة بسبب السياسات الخاطئة التي تمارس بحقنا". وتوجهت برسالة مؤثًرة قالت فيها: "مرًت سبع سنوات على الإبادة وما زالت الإيزيديات تعيش في مخيمات والسؤال الذي أطرحه على نفسي: " ماذا يعني أن ينجو الانسان من كارثة او حملة إبادة جماعية؟ والجواب هو أننا لم ننجو، ما زلنا نعاني كل يوم، مازلنا نحلم برؤية أحباءنا الذين اعتدنا عليهم بحكم الروابط العائلية المتينة في مجتمعنا، لا يمكن لأي شخص ان يتعافى من آلامه دون أن يتعافى المجتمع بأسره. مازلنا اليوم في الصدمة! ونترقب ان ننجو من هذه المأساة وننادي المجتمع الدولي أن يحمينا."

وختمت مداخلتها قائلة: "لدي أمل أن المجتمع الدولي سيقوم بتعويضي وبتعويص ضحايا أعمال الإرهاب التي قام به داعش، لنعمل من أجل إعادة إعمار ما دمًره داعش".

من ثم، تحدَث السيًد مراد إسماعيل، المدير التنفيذي الأسبق لجمعية يزدا وقال: "أشكر المجتمع الدولي على جهوده لدعم سنجار وأدعوه لخلق خلق فرص عمل للإيزيديين، كما أدعو إلى "إنشاء هيئة داخلية في وزارة الداخلية والدفاع العراقية، لإتخاذ الخطوات العاجلة اللازمة لضمان عدم تكرار هذه الإبادة بحق الإيزيديين".

من ثم، توجًه سالار عبد الستّار، وزير العدل في جمهورّية العراق برسالة قال فيها: "لقد حرَكت هذه الجريمة العالم، وتناقل العالم القصص من آلاف الضحايا من النساء والفتيات والأطفال". وأضاف: "مع استمرار فقدان الآلاف من النساء، ومع وجود المقابر الجماعية في العديد من القرى والبلدات في سنجار، سعت الحكومة العراقية إلى التعاون مع فريق التحقيق الدولي لتوفير الأدلة، وفتح المقابر الجماعية وتعويض المتضررين".

من ناحيته، أطلعنا النائب صائب خضر، عضو في البرلمان العراقي وممثّل للإيزيديّين، على عرقلة وصول التعويضات إلى أهالي سنجار بسبب البيروقراطية السياسية. فقال: "من الضروري فصل الملفَ الإداري عن الملف السياسي لعدم عرقلة وصول التعويضات إلى أهالي سنجار." أما نائب مسـاعد وزيـر الخارجيّـة الأمريكـي لشؤون الشرق الأدنـى جوي هود، فأشار إلى هشاشة الوضع الأمني في سنجار. وقال: "نحن مستعدون في الولايات المتحدة لتدريب قوات الأمن المحلية المختصة في سنجار، للمساعدة في إعادة الأمن والحفاظ عليه".

معوقات العدالة والمساءلة

بدوره، أشاد سفير الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة إلى العراق ماثيو تويلر بصمود الإيزيديين، وقال: نحن، ملتزمون في الولايات المتحدة بدعم الإيزيديين من أجل عودة آمنة إلى ديارهم، وتقديم المساعدات المالية لتمكينهم اقتصاديًا. وأضاف:" لا مستقبل مستدام للإيزيديين بدون تحقيق العدالة بشأن الجرائم التي ارتكبها داعش"

في مداخلتها، تطرقت السيّدة سراب بركات، الناشطة في مجال حقوق الإنسان، والمديرة العامة للمديرّية العامّة لشؤون الّناجين في وزارة العمل والشؤون الاجتماعيّة العراقيّة، إلى ضرورة الاعتراف بضحايا العنف الجنسي وقالت: "لاقى قانون الناجيات الإيزيديات ترحيبًا من المجتمع الدولي، وهو الأول من نوعه للاعتراف بضحايا العنف الجنسي. وختمت مداخلتها بالقول: "نحن ممتنون للدعم الكبير لقانون الناجيات ونطالب بالدعم لتنفيذه بشكل كامل".

أمًا السيدة ناتيا نوروزوف، مديرة المرافعة القانونيّة ورئيسة مشروع التوثيق في منظّمة يزدا، فتطرًقت إلى معوقات العدالة والمساءلة، مشيرة إلى "أن غياب المساءلة يعود إلى غياب الإطار القانوني لفرض العقوبات على المرتكبين".

بدوره، لفت السيّد كريم النوري، سياسي عراقي شغل منصب نائب وزير الهجرة والمهجّرين، أن "الحكومة العراقية تقوم بتقديم الدعم والإغاثة للنازحين لإعادتهم طوعًا إلى ديارهم". أما السيّدة نادين مينزا، مفوَىضة في اللجنة الأميركية للحرية الدينية، فلفتت إلى" ضرورة وضع عقوبات على المرتكبين الذين ينتهكون الحريات الدينية. بدورها، توجَهت السيدة براميلا باتين ممثّلة خاصّة للأمين العام للأمم المتّحدة لمواجهة العنف الجنسي في حالات الحرب إلى الحضور مشيرة إلى أن "لا مستقبل مستدام ولا إعادة إعمار في سنجار، في غياب العدالة". كما لفت السفير مارك برايسن ريتشاردسون، سفير مملكة بريطانيا إلى دولة العراق، إلى أهمية هذه المناسبة، مشيرًا: "نحتفي اليوم بذكرى الإبادة للتذكير بالفظائع التي ارتكبها داعش وبتداعياتها، من أجل ضمان العدالة والمساءلة".

في ختام اليوم الأول من المؤتمر، دعا سعادة السفير ميشال رنتينار، دبلوماسي مخضرم في وزارة الخارجيّة الهولندّية إلـى ضرورة الاعتراف العالم بأجمعه بأن الفظائع التي قادها داعش تشكًل إبادة جماعية.

وقد اختتم اليوم الأول من المؤتمر، بتوصيات من المتحدثين بضرورة إضفاء الطابع الإنساني على الأمن والحاجة الملحًة لإرادة سياسية وخطة عمل. كما تمَت معالجة الدور الذي يجب أن تلعبه الحكومات المحلية والعالمية لحماية سنجار من الناحية الأمنيّة، وفيما يتعلق بمسائل الإدارة العامّة، جدول أعمال المرأة، السلام، الأمن، والمساءلة.

وقام بإدارة حلقات النقاش الأستاذ سعد سلًوم، رئيس مؤسّسة مسارات ومؤسّس معهد دراسات التنوّع الدّيني في بغداد.

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا .

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تُعتبر أساسية للسلام الطويل الأجل والمستدام، والتمكين الاجتماعي والاقتصادي.

www.zovighianpartnership.com

الأخبار ووسائل الإعلام:
-الأمم المتحدة

Remarks for Yazda Seventh Annual Commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide on the Theme “Towards a sustainable future for Yazidis and minorities in Iraq and KRI”, 2-3 August 2021

-أخبار VOA

7 Years After Islamic State Genocide, Yazidi Survivors Still Seeking Justice

-السفارة الأميركية والقنصليات في العراق

Ambassador Tueller Speaks at Seventh Annual Commemoration of the Yezidi Genocide

-الأمم المتحدة

SRSG Patten remarks for the Free Yezidi Foundation Genocide Commemoration Concluding Panel: Genocide, Recovery and Support, 3 August 2021

-رووداو

PM Kadhimi says Yazidi ‘tragedy’ should never be repeated

Seven Years On, Critical Challenges Face Yazidis Eager to Return to Sinjar

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 06:31:34 GMT

Date:

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Last updated:

August 3, 2021

August 3 , 2021

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Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda. org

Yazda, in collaboration with The Zovighian Partnership , held a virtual convening titled, “Towards a sustainable future for Yazidis and minorities in Iraq & KRI,” on the significant occasion of the Seventh Annual Commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide. The two-day commemoration, held under the patronage of His Excellency Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, gathered several national and international diplomats, to acknowledge the barriers to genocide response and examine the chronic challenges and crucial actions that need to be urgently addressed and facilitated.

In his welcoming speech, the Prime Minister addressed the audience saying, “We are committed towards finding sustainable solutions that facilitate the safe return of Yazidis to their homes.” He added, “Our Iraqi national government is coordinating with the relevant ministries and local authorities in Iraq to implement long-term solutions for the socio-economic development and reconstruction of Sinjar.”

The first day of the commemoration also shed light on the potential paths for the rebuilding of Sinjar that will give way to a sustainable future for minorities.

Mr. Elias Haider, Co-founder and President of Yazda Organization stressed the importance of this commemoration, despite all the hardships facing the region, adding that the purpose of this commemoration is: “To remind the world of the atrocities and the genocide perpetrated by Da’esh against the Yazidis.”

Sayyed Ammar al-Hakim, Head of the National Wisdom Movement, condemned the atrocities perpetrated by Da’esh, stating, “The terror acts committed by Dae’sh do not represent Islam, and distort its true image.” He added, “We will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the Yazidis to relieve their suffering.”

Ensuring the safe return of displaced Yazidis

Ms. Salwa Saido, member of the Yazidi Survivor’s Network delivered a message to the audience on the atrocities she suffered in the hands of Da’esh. She stressed that the international community has failed to protect the Yazidi people, adding, “Seven years on, the Yazidis are still displaced, living in refugee camps. I am calling for a plan for a dignified return of Yazidis to their homeland.”

United States Ambassador Matthew Tueller praised the resilience of the Yazidi community, saying, “The USA will continue to support the Yazidi community and support their return to their homes, to ensure that the needs of Yazidi minorities are met.”

Mr. Karim Nouri, Deputy Minister of Migration and Displacement, addressed the complexities of the displacement.

Director of Masarat Foundations and Founder of the Iraqi Council for Interfaith Dialogue, Saad Salloum, called for urgently acknowledging key challenges facing the Yazidi people in order to move forward with a plan of action.

Mr. Murad Ismael, Co-founder and President of Sinjar Academy, thanked the international community for its support to the Yazidis, stipulating however, that the security within Sinjar has not been resolved yet, concluding that, “We don’t want Sinjar to become a place for war.” He called for practical recommendations to ensure the socio-economic development of Sinjar, especially to encourage job creation.

Emphasizing the commitment of the Iraqi government in collecting evidence to facilitate the prosecutions of crimes, His Excellency Minister Salar Abdul Sattar Muhammad explained that the Iraqi government is working with the international community to exhume the mass graves and ensure accountability for crimes committed by Da’esh.

Member of the Iraqi Parliament Saib Khidir echoed the need to financially compensate victims, saying, “Victims are not receiving the material compensation through governmental means due to inappropriate arrangement and allocation of resources.”

In turn, Mr. Joey Hood, United States Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs said,“USA is ready to train and equip the local security forces in Sinjar, to enable them to go back home.”

Challenges for justice and accountability

United Kingdom Ambassador to Iraq Mark Bryson-Richardson in turn stressed the importance of this commemorative event to commemorate the Yazidi genocide and set the tone on the brutal atrocities against Yazidis.

In an expert-led panel, Ms. Sarab Barakat, General Director of the Directorate General for Survivors’ Affairs at the Iraq Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, called for urgent bold political will and implementation of the Yazidi Female Survivors Law.

Legal Advocacy Director at Yazda, Ms. Natia Navrouzov, stated that, “The lack of justice and accountability is the result of the absence of a legal framework to impose sanctions against Da’esh.”

Ms. Nadine Maenza, Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, stressed the need to impose sanctions on people violating religious freedoms stated that, “The international community needs to support the Iraqi government, so Yazidis can be making decisions on their own.”

The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Pramila Patten, stated: “No sustainable future and no equitable reconstruction for Iraq without justice.”

Dutch Ambassador to Iraq Michel Rentenaar called for all governments around the world to recognize that the atrocities constitute a genocide.

Download press release here .

For the Arabic version, click he re .

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Founded in 2014 at the onset of the genocide perpetuated by “Da’esh”, also known as Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) against the Yazidis, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity against other minorities, Yazda leads advocacy and strategic projects in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains, as well as global diaspora hubs.

www.zovighianpartnership.com

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لا مستقبل مستدام لليزيديين والأقليات في العراق وإقليم كردستان مع استمرار الإبادة الجماعية للسنة السابعة على التوالي

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 13:20:35 GMT

سعد مراد

+1 (402) 484-1852

media@yazda.org

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لا مستقبل مستدام للايزيديين والاقليات في العراق واقليم كردستان مع استمرار الابادة الجماعية منذ سبع سنوات

لا يزال مستقبل الايزيديين تحت تهديد خطير، لا تزال سنجار، المعروفة للايزيديين بأنها جوهر وطن أجدادهم، في حالة اضطراب على خلفية إضافية من الجغرافية السياسية المعقدة، مما يعيق فرص التعافي المجتمعي الشامل من الإبادة الجماعية. على الرغم من سبع سنوات من الوعود من المجتمع الدولي والمسؤولين الوطنيين، عاد ٢٥٪ من الايزيديين إلى سنجار، ولا يزال معظمهم يقيم في مخيمات النازحين.

انطلاقاً من ذلك، بالرعاية الرسميّة لدولة رئيس الوزراء العراقي الأستاذ مصطفى الكاظمي، ستعقد يزدا، بالشراكة The Zovighian Partnership، مؤتمرا دوليا عبر الانترنت بحلول الذكرى السنوية السابعة للابادة الجماعية الايزيدية، بعنوان "نحو مستقبل مستدام للايزيديين والأقليات الأخرى في العراق وإقليم كردستان، وذلك في يومي ٢ و٣ أغسطس ٢٠٢١. سيستضيف هذا المؤتمر خطابات رئيسية وجلسات عامة وحلقات نقاش صادقة وذات منحى عملي لمعالجة القضايا الرئيسية التي تواجه الايزيديين والأقليات العرقية والدينية العراقية الأخرى اليوم.

معوقات العدالة والمساءلة

في آب/ أغسطس ٢٠١٤، كانت سنجار هدفا للإبادة الممنهجة من قبل داعش، والمعروفة باسم بالدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام، مما أدى إلى قتل واستعباد ونزوح جماعي لمجتمع بأكمله. في اليوم الأول للإبادة الجماعية، ُذبح نحو ١،٢٩٨ ايزيديا في سنجار في ٣ أغسطس ٢٠١٤. وتشير التقديرات إلى أن أكثر من ٥٠٠٠ رجلاً لقوا حتفهم في المذابح خلال الايام الاولى. وقد نزح ٣٥٥٠٠٠ من الايزيديين بسبب الهجمات والفظائع التي قادها داعش، حيث تم تدمير ٦٨ موقعا دينيا وثقافيا. وبعد مرور سبع سنوات على هذه الإبادة، لا يزال حوالي ٢٩٥٠ ايزيديا في عداد المفقودين في أسر داعش.

بعد سبع سنوات، لم يتغير شيء ُ يذكر

في ١٠ مايو ٢٠٢١ قدم كريم خان، المستشار الخاص ورئيس فريق التحقيق التابع للأمم المتحدة لتعزيز المساءلة عن الجرائم التي ارتكبها داعش، أدلة واضحة ومقنعة، على أن الجرائم ضد الشعب الايزيدي"، من الواضح أنها تشكل إبادة جماعية "لمجلس الأمن التابع للأمم المتحدة. على الرغم من هذه الرسالة الواضحة، لم تتحقق عدالة دولية، من بين أكثر من ٥٠٠ من الناجيات الايزيديات الذين أدلوا بشهاداتهم ضد الجناة، تم حتى الآن إصدار أربع إدانات فقط. في ٢٦ يوليو ٢٠٢١، أصدرت المحاكم الألمانية حكما رابعا.

بارتكاب جرائم ضد الإنسانية ارتكبها مقاتلو داعش الأجانب الذين استعبدوا امرأتين ايزيديتين. "أخشى أن أمضي حياتي بأجمعها في انتظار العدالة. ولكن ماذا لو لم تكن حياتي طويلة بما يكفي للوصول إلى المساءلة؟ " تسأل المتحدثة في إحياء الذكرى، زينة خلات، وهي ناشطة في مجال حقوق الإنسان وعضو في شبكة الناجيات الايزيديات. وفي الوقت نفسه، يقبع مسلحو داعش في السجن أو يواجهون محاكمات وإعدامات متسرعة في السجون العراقية دون أن ُيسمح لضحاياهم بمواجهتهم في المحكمة .

لا خطط حقيقية لإعادة الإعمار وتمكين كرامة المجتمع
لا يزال الوضع في دهوك، سنجار وسهل نينوى هشا وغير امناً وقابل لحدوث خروقات مع وجود تنظيم الدولة الاسلامية في العراق والشام ومجاميع المليشيات الاخرى المسلحة على الارض. أدت الديناميكيات الجيوسياسية الأحدث مع الضربات المنتظمة للقوات الجوية التركية إلى تعطيل القرى والبلدات من استعادة الحياة المجتمعية المستدامة. مع عدم وجود جهود مادية للتخفيف من المخاطر الأمنية على الأرض، لا يزال أكثر من ٧٥٪ من الايزيديين النازحين غير قادرين على مغادرة مخيمات النازحين.

على الرغم من وجود العديد من الجهات الأمنية، لا تزال داعش تحاول إعادة التسلل والتسبب في الأذى. في الآونة الأخيرة، بينما عاد بعض الايزيديين إلى وطنهم، لم يتم إعادة تشكيل إدارة المنطقة المحلية منذ عام ٢٠١٧. ولا تزال هناك قضايا إدارية وأمنية مهمة دون حل، على الرغم من توقيع اتفاقية سنجار في ٩ أكتوبر ٢٠١٩ من قبل الحكومة العراقية وحكومة اقليم كردستان الا ان الاتفاق لم ينفذ بعد.

إن عدم وجود استراتيجية وطنية، تضمنها كل من الحكومتين العراقية وإقليم كردستان، لجلب الإنفاق العام والاستثمارات إلى المناطق التي دمرها احتلال داعش، يمنع مجتمعات الأقليات من ممارسة حقوقها في العودة إلى ديارها في المناطق الصالحة للسكن والممكنة اقتصاديا. حتى الآن، لا تزال المقابر الجماعية موجودة في العديد من القرى والبلدات في سنجار، مما يجعل أي عودة آمنة أمرا مستحيلا.

في كلمته، قال رئيس يزدا والقائم على اعمال المؤتمر، حيدر الياس: " لم يكن الوقت متاخراً ابداً للإثبات للايزيديين وجميع الاقليات ان سياسات، اجراءات هادفة جارية لإعادة الحياة الى وطننا"

إجراءات عاجلة غير قابلة للتأجيل

بحلول الذكرى السنوية السابعة للإبادة الجماعية الايزيدية، في وقت للذكرى والدبلوماسية الجماعية، من الضروري أن تقوم الحكومة المركزية في العراق وحكومة إقليم كردستان وجميع الفاعلين الدوليين بما يلي:

١- اتخاذ الخطوات العاجلة اللازمة لضمان المساءلة عن الجرائم المرتكبة ضد الايزيديين والأقليات الأخرى، بما في ذلك الدعوة إلى إنشاء محكمة وطنية، بالتشاور مع الضحايا والناجيات، بتعاون وتسهيل دوليين كاملين؛

٢- حماية وصيانة وإعادة استخراج الجثث من المقابر الجماعية في سنجار، مما يسمح لأسر الضحايا بدفن أحبائهم على النحو المناسب وتحقيق قدر من السلام، مع ضمان الحماية الشاملة والتوثيق لجميع أدلة الإبادة الجماعية، والشروع في الخطوات الأولى نحو إعادة تأهيل القرى والمدن؛

٣- إنشاء فريق للأمن القومي، بمشاركة التحالف الدولي لهزيمة داعش، للبحث عن مصير ما يقدر بنحو ٢٩٥٠ امرأة وطفل ايزيدي لا يزالون في عداد المفقودين و ُيعتقد أنهم ما زالوا محتجزين لدى داعش؛

٤- تنفيذ قانون الناجيات الايزيديات وتقديم تعويضات لجميع الناجيات من داعش؛

٥- حل مسألة ازدواجية الادارة المحلية في سنجار فوراً ودون تأخير بالتنسيق مع المجتمع الايزيدي بما في ذلك تنفيذ اتفاقية سنجار؛

٦- إعادة الأمن والحفاظ عليه في سنجار من خلال زيادة حجم قوات الأمن المحلية المختصة ومعالجة وجود العديد من الجماعات المسلحة غير الحكومية التي لا تزال تعمل في المنطقة؛

٧- تسريع جهود إعادة الإعمار في سنجار مع الإدماج الكامل لممثلين من جميع الأقليات - وخاصة الناجيات من أسر داعش - في جميع عمليات صنع القرار والحكم التي ستحدد المستقبل المستدام والآمن والمزدهر لجميع المجتمعات في المنطقة؛

٨- ضمان توفير الخدمات الأساسية والعامة بشكل عاجل لسنجار، بما في، الكهرباء والمياه والاتصالات والطرق والأمن والرعاية الصحية والتعليم والتمكين الاقتصادي؛

٩- تصميم برامج المصالحة بالتشاور مع جميع مجتمعات الأقليات لضمان التعايش السلمي والفعال والمجدي في سنجار بين جميع المجتمعات والجماعات في المنطقة؛ عند تقديم العدالة الجزائية.

سيتم استضافة الذكرى السنوية السابعة للإبادة الجماعية الايزيدية بالشراكة مع The Zovighian Partnership.

كما ستتم استضافة الفعاليات التذكارية الرسمية على منصة اللزوم وسيتم عرضها مباشرة على جميع قنوات التواصل الاجتماعي الخاصة بيزدا في يومي ٢ و٣ أغسطس ٢٠٢١ من الساعة ١٦:٠٠ إلى الساعة ١٩:٣٠ بتوقيت العراق، مع قادة الحكومة الوطنية والسفراء والوزراء من العديد من الحكومات المانحة والناشطين، وأصدقاء القضية الايزيدية.

"نحن ملتزمون بضمان عدم التخلي عن أصدقائنا الايزيديين ونؤكد أن حقوقهم ومطالبهم ومستقبلهم مصونة ومضمونة"، تشدد لين زوفيكيان، الشريكة المؤسسة والمديرة الإدارية لشركة ZP.

قم بتنزيل الخبر الصحفي هنا.

للنسخة الانجليزية، اضغط هنا.

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تُعتبر أساسية للسلام الطويل الأجل والمستدام، والتمكين الاجتماعي والاقتصادي.

www.zovighianpartnership.com

No Sustainable Future for Yazidis and Minorities in Iraq and KRI as Seven-Year Genocide Continues

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 07:16:39 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

July 27, 2021

July 31, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda. org

Seven years on, little has changed

The future of the Yazidis remains under critical threat. Sinjar, known to the Yazidis as the core of their ancestral homeland, continues to be in turmoil against an additional backdrop of complex geopolitics, hindering the chances of comprehensive community recovery from genocide. Despite seven years of promises from the international community and national officials, a meager 25% of Yazidis have returned to Sinjar, the majority of whom still reside in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

On the 2nd and 3rd of August 2021, under the patronage of His Excellency Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Yazda, in partnership with The Zovighian Partnership, will hold a virtual international conference for the Seventh Annual Commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide. This convening will host honest and action-oriented keynotes, plenaries, and panels to address the key issues facing the Yazidis and other Iraqi ethno-religious minorities today, entitled “Towards a sustainable future for Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq and KRI.”

Obstructions to justice and accountability

In August 2014, Sinjar was the target of systematic extermination by Da’esh, known as the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), resulting in the killing, enslavement, and massive displacement of an entire community. On the first day of genocide, 1,298 Yazidis were massacred in Sinjar on August 3, 2014. It is estimated that over 5,000 men died in the early massacres. 355,000 Yazidis were displaced by the attacks and atrocities led by ISIL. 68 religio-cultural sites were destroyed. On this August 3, 2021, 2,950 Yazidis are still missing in ISIL captivity.

On May 10, 2021 by the Special Advisor and Head of the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD), Karim Khan, presented the “clear and convincing evidence, that the crimes against the Yazidi people, clearly constituted genocide” to the United Nations Security Council.

No real plans for reconstruction and enabling community dignity

The situation in Dohuk, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plains remains fragile, unsafe, and flammable, with the presence of ISIL and other armed militia groups still on the ground. More recent geopolitical dynamics with regular strikes by Turkish Air Forces have disabled ghost villages and towns from restoring sustainable community living. With no material efforts to alleviate security risks on the ground, over 75% of displaced Yazidis are still unable to leave the IDP camps.

Despite the presence of multiple security players, ISIL still attempts to re-infiltrate and cause harm. Recently, while some Yazidis have returned to their homeland, the local district administration has still not been re-established since 2017. Significant administrative and security issues remain unresolved, despite the signing of the Sinjar Agreement on October 9, 2019 by both the Iraq and Kurdistan Regional governments. The agreement has yet to be implemented.

The lack of a national strategy, underwritten by both the Iraqi and KRI governments, to bring public spending and investments to the areas devastated by ISIL occupation is keeping minority communities from exercising their rights to returning home to habitable and socio-economicallyenabled areas. Until now, mass graves are still present in many villages and towns in Sinjar, making any safe return a ghastly impossibility.

“It has never been so overdue to demonstrate to the Yazidis and all minority communities that meaningful policies and actions are underway to bring life back to our homeland,” states Yazda President and commemoration host, Haider Elias.

Urgent actions that must no longer wait

On the occasion of the Seventh Annual Commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide, at a time of remembrance and collective diplomacy, it is imperative that the Iraqi Central Government, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and all international actors:

1. Take the necessary urgent steps to secure accountability for the crimes committed against the Yazidis and other minority groups, including calling for the establishment of a national tribunal, in consultation with victims and survivors, with full international cooperation and facilitation;

2. Protect, preserve and restart the exhumation of mass graves in Sinjar, allowing families of victims to bury their loved ones properly and achieve some closure, while also ensuring comprehensive safeguarding and documentation of all evidence of genocide, and initiating the first steps towards rehabilitating villages and towns;

3. Establish a national security team, with the involvement of the International Coalition to Defeat ISIL, to search for the fate of an estimated 2,950 Yazidi women and children who are still missing and are believed to still be held in ISIL captivity;

4. Implement the Yazidi Women Survivors Law and provide reparation to all ISIL survivors;

5. Immediately resolve, and without delay, the issue of the dual local administration in Sinjar, in coordination with the Yazidi community; including the implementation of the Sinjar agreement.

6. Restore and maintain security in Sinjar by increasing the size of competent local security forces and addressing the presence of many non-state armed groups still operating in the region;

7. Accelerate reconstruction efforts in Sinjar with the full inclusion of representatives from all minority groups – especially survivors of ISIL captivity – in all decision-making and governance processes that will determine the sustainable, safe, and prosperous future of all communities in the area;

8. Urgently ensure the provisioning of basic and public services to Sinjar, including, but not limited to, electricity, water, telecommunications, roads, security, healthcare, education, and economic enablement;

9. Upon serving retributive justice, design reconciliation programs in consultation with all minority communities to ensure effective, feasible, and peaceful cohabitation in Sinjar amongst all communities and groups in the area;

The Seventh Annual Commemoration of the Yazidi Genocide is hosted in partnership with The Zovighian Partnership.

“We stand committed to ensuring that our Yazidi friends are not abandoned and that their rights, demands, and future are safeguarded and guaranteed,” says Lynn Zovighian, Co-founder and Managing Director of The Zovighian Partnership.

The official commemorative events will be hosted on Zoom and featured live on all Yazda social media channels on August 2-3, 2021 from 16:00-19:30 Iraq time, with national government leaders.

Download press release h ere .

For the Arabic version, click here .

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www.zovighianpartnership.com

Yazda is Briefing the Irish Parliament on Yazidi Situation

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 14:58:57 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

June 15, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Yazda representatives are briefing the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Irish Parliament on the Yazidi situation in Iraq.

On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the Yazda team briefed the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Irish Parliament on the situation of the Yazidis in Iraq and made proposals for assistance to the Yazidis in terms of humanitarian needs and legal issues.

Ahmed Khadeeda, Yazda's UK Director and Deputy Executive Director, provided a detailed explanation of what happened to the Yazidis, Yazda's role in the genocide response, and the projects that Yazda is implementing to assist victims and survivors of the genocide.

Nisreen Hassan, a survivor of ISIS violence and a member of the Yazidi Survivors' Network, discussed the needs of survivors and those still in ISIS captivity, as well as the role of the Yazidi Survivors' Network in internationalizing the Yazidi cause and rehabilitating and empowering

survivors.

Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director at Yazda, spoke about the legal aspects of the Yazidi case, particularly the recognition of the genocide and the establishment of a special court to hold ISIS militants accountable, and the role that the Irish government can play in the Security Council to establish a tribunal for ISIS members.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend to the Irish government consideration of a detailed proposal and budget from Yazda to provide resources to the Survivors' Network.

Yazda wishes to thank the Committee and Irish Parliament and Government for their ongoing support for the Yazidis, as well as for convening this special session to discuss the situation of the Yazidis in Iraq.

Download press release her e .

Yazda and a Group of Survivors Discuss Establishing a Tribunal to try ISIL Suspects in Iraq

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 19:07:14 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

June 9, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Yazda and a group of survivors discuss the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute ISIL suspects in Iraq

On 9 June 2021, Yazda held a workshop with the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN), a group of Yazidi survivors.Topics discussed included advancing accountability of perpetrators of atrocity crimes, justice for survivors, UNITAD’s recognition of the Yazidi genocide, the KRI, and Baghdad draft legislation on establishing a tribunal to prosecute crimes committed by ISIL and enable prosecution based on international law.

End of April, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s cabinet approved draft legislation to establish an ISIL courtin Erbil. The draft law is currently with the KRI Parliament to be voted on. The tribunal would ensure a legal framework to prosecute ISIL members for

international crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. This initiative came shortly before the Yazidi genocide recognition by UNITAD on 10 May 2021.

YSN raised several questions and concerns, including why Iraq waited this long to pass a law, and whether the tribunal will have international involvement. The survivors emphasized that they wanted international involvement to ensure that the trials are fair and impartial. Another concern raised by the group was that most of them were not even aware that such draft law existed, and that they were not involved or consulted in the process. Indeed, out of 12 survivors, only 2 had vaguely heard about this initiative.

To ensure that the voices of survivors are heard, Yazda is planning to consult with survivors on the KRI draft law before sharing a set of comments and recommendations with the KRI Parliament.

The workshop was a part of Yazda’s project Advancing Accountability and Truth-Telling Processes for the Victims of Mass Atrocity Crimes Committed by ISIL in Iraq and Syria, funded 2 by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH and Forum Civil Peace Service

(CPS).

Yazda wish to thank GIZ and CPS for their continues support in making survivors pursue of justice and truth-telling possible.

Download press release he re .

Yazda President, Haider Elias, Meets With the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi

Sun, 30 May 2021 19:12:16 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

May 30, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Today on May 30th, 2021, the President of Yazda Mr. Haider Elias, met with the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi in Baghdad to discuss the ongoing issues relating to the situation of Yazidis in Iraq and possible ways to find solutions for them. Among the issues discussed were

those concerning the Yazidi women and girls who are still missing in ISIS captivity, the security and administrative situation in Sinjar, the facilitation for the return of the displaced people, and the continuation of work to open mass graves and reveal the identity of the victims.

The Prime Minister and Mr. Elias discussed efforts to promote the rights of all minorities and vulnerable groups in Iraq, and the future of their respective regions.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Elias thanked the Prime Minister for the warm reception and for his role in continuing to support issues related to Yazidis and all religious and ethnic minorities.

Download press release h ere .

Success Story: 32-Year-Old Jasim Haji Hassan Rebuilds His Life

Fri, 14 May 2021 19:37:47 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

May 14, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

32-year-old Jasim Haji Hassan, a native of Aajma Village, was living a simple, happy life with his wife, children, mother, and brothers. He had a carpentry business and was very skilled in this occupation. Additionally, his carpentry business became his hobby; Jasim was able to expand

his business by providing carpentry services to villages near Sinjar city. Jasim describes his life as incredibly joyful and simple.

"Before 2014, we were all so satisfied with our life – My favorite memories are celebrating beautiful occasions with my family and friends.

I miss playing football with my friends so much”

Jasim says that during the beginning stages of the war, Yazidi forces only had simple weaponry; he states when ISIS attacked them and security forces withdraw without fighting, his village used their cars to ferry families from the KerZarek village. In March 2014 Jasim and his family escaped to Sinjar mountain; Jasim decided to help the armed Yazidi forces by helping to deliver food and water to the families.

“Escaping to Sinjar mountain was incredibly difficult – all of us thought that this would be the last day of our lives. It was such a tragic situation as there were old men, women, and children escaping to the mountain by foot. For ten days, we didn’t have food or water, and everyone was

very scared”

Jasim said that after the border area between Iraq and Syria became reinforced and safer by the Kurdish fighters and Yazidiforces, his family headed to Syria, followed by Kurdistan. Jasim and his family stayed in refugee camps for three years and afterward, they were able to return to

Sinjar after its liberation.

Jasim and his family are currently living in the Yarmook district of Sinjar – Jasim stated that life was incredibly difficult due to the lack of services, employment, and security in the region. ISIS had also burnt his carpentry tools and wood, which made it increasingly difficult for him to restart his carpentry business. Fortunately, Yazda (along with ASB) began working in the Sinjar area and was able to help Jasim and his two brothers restarting his carpentry business.

Jasim now has a stable financial situation and has also been able to provide employment to five different people from Sinjar city. Jasim’s future plan is to expand his business and move back to his home of Aajma village.

“I am grateful to Yazda and ASB for all their support towards helping vulnerable families in Sinjar. After this devastating conflict, my life has changed, and I miss many of my relatives and friends – hopefully, we can rebuild our lives again”

Yazda is implementing this project as a part of the livelihood and agricultural project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in partnership with Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB).

Download press release her e .

Yazidi Survivors, Yazda and Amal Clooney Welcome UN Report of ISIL Genocide Against the Yazidis

Tue, 11 May 2021 11:31:00 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

May 11, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Joint statement - Yazidi survivors, Yazda and Amal Clooney welcome UN report of ISIL genocide against the Yazidis

Yesterday, the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) presented its sixth report to the UN Security Council (UNSC).The UNSC, through UN Resolution 2379 (2017) established UNITAD to support domestic efforts

to hold ISIL accountable by collecting, preserving, and storing evidence in Iraq to deliver evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. UNITAD was set up following a joint advocacy effort of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad, Human Rights Lawyer Amal

Clooney, and Yazidi global NGO, Yazda.

The Special Advisor and Head of UNITAD, Karim Khan addressing the UNSC stated:

“The crimes against the Yazidis were horrific, they shocked the conscience of humanity, they spurred the honorable members of this Council to action, to demand accountability, to demand justice and to ensure that impunity and the violent extremism, that was the signature of Da’esh, would not go un-investigated and unpunished.

The [UNITAD] team has established a detailed account of the atrocities committed against the Yazidis. Thousands of statements have been taken by the Team, obtained from the Iraqi authorities or from the KRG, or from NGOs. We combined that with analysis of computers,

phone records, forensic analysis, facial recognition and I am able to announce, that based upon independent and impartial investigations, complained with international standards and UN best practice, there is clear and convincing evidence, that the crimes against the Yazidi people, clearly constituted genocide [...].

The intent of ISIL to destroy the Yazidis, physically and biologically, was manifested in the ultimatum that was repeated in so many different villages in Iraq, ‘to convert or to die. Thousands of men, women, and children were killed pursuant to this ultimatum [...].

A full scope of criminality displayed in the awful criminality of Da’esh against the Yazidi community, executions, slavery, sexual slavery, crimes against children that are horrific, and really chilled one’s soul, but how on earth was such things allowed to happen? Yet they did.” UNITAD’s report confirmed and significantly expanded the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic , which found in 2016 that ISIL has committed the crime of genocide as well as crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Yazidis in Syria.

The Yazidi community in Iraq and globally welcome the outcome of UNITAD’s investigation. Members of Yazda’s Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN), a group of Yazidi survivors and Human Rights activists responded to the public briefing:

“This genocide recognition by UNITAD is very important for all Yazidis. We have been waiting for a prompt response to our demand, that the horrific crimes committed against us by ISIL be considered genocide crimes. We have endured a lot of suffering and it is now time to get the justice we deserve. For us, the genocide qualification of the crimes is very important since it is the only way to prevent other genocides against the Yazidis and other minorities from happeningagain in the future. This recognition will bring again attention to our case and make people aware of what happened to us in this century,the displacement, sexual violence, torture, and mass executions we were subjected to. It is very important for us that everyone understands what happened to the Yazidis. This report can make justice possible, and justice should be possible for Yazidis and all oppressed minorities around the world.”

Yazda’s documentation efforts have supported UNITAD’s work and findings and Yazda has been in a formal partnership with UNITAD since it started to operate in Iraq.

Commenting on this collaboration, Natia Navrouzov, Legal Advocacy Director at Yazda commented:

“This report embodies Yazda’s mandate: the recognition of the Yazidi genocide and the prevention of future crimes against the Yazidis and other minorities. To achieve its mandate, Yazda has collected numerous accounts of Yazidis survivors of genocide. Over 100 victim and witness statements have been shared and presented with consent of the survivors to UNITAD. Yazda commends UNITAD for its findings. We stand committed to persistently supporting survivors to achieve justice”.

In addition to today’s briefing, UNITAD is hosting on the 12th of May a special UNITAD event entitled “The Crimes of ISIL in Iraq: Delivering Accountability through Innovation and Partnership” with the participation of Nadia Murad and Amal Clooney, who is representing Yazidi survivors in ongoing national court proceedings.

Following the 10th of May event, Ms. Clooney stated:

“Thanks to extensive investigations, the UN has today confirmed that ISIL committed genocide against the Yazidis in Iraq and presented the evidence for this. This recognition is a milestone for survivors. And the evidence should now be used to put perpetrators on trial- for the sake of survivors and our common humanity.” This genocide recognition by UNITAD is alsotimely as it comes two weeks after a statement from KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on the approval of a draft legislation to establish a special court in the Kurdistan Region to prosecute ISIL

suspects for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. A first reading of the draft already took place at the KRG Parliament and it is understood that a similar law is also being considered in Baghdad.

Commenting on this, the survivors of the YSN stated:

“We strongly support international involvement in all trials against ISIL members in Iraq. We have concerns that, without external oversight, corruption and arbitrary interference of political parties might flaw the judicial system and consequently our chances for justice. We don’t want our cases to become a political battlefield of opposing religious and political groups. An international presence in the courtroom would ensure that the process is objective and fair and that we obtain the justice we are looking for, and most importantly, the justice we can trust.”

Natia Navrouzov added:

“The Yazidi victims and the Yazidi community as a whole want international involvement if an ISIL court is set up in Erbil or in Baghdad, simply because after being subjected to genocide in their own country, they have lost trust in the institutions. International participation through

international legal experts, judges, prosecutors and the application of international law will benefit all parties: it will allow the slow rebuilding of trust and ensure that due process is applied in these trials. We need a clear cut from how the trials against ISIL suspects are currently conducted in Iraq, without transparency, and without victim’s participation. Moreover, the Yazidi community needs to be involved fully throughout the whole process of this draft law, with consultations facilitated at each step. We need to avoid the mistakes that have occurred in the past when affected communities have been excluded from such a process. We must not repeat these mistakes again but must be consulted fully on any draft law related to ISIL crimes.”

In November 2019, Yazda with the participation of experts of the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) had organized a workshop entitled “Designing an Internationalized Justice Mechanism in Iraq”. Over 40 participants had attended the workshop including Yazidi survivors, Yazidi NGOs, and representatives of other minorities (Shabak, Christian, Kaka'ï, and Turkmen). During the discussions, the participants had agreed on two main points: that an accountability mechanism set up in Iraq needed to have international involvement and that victims and civil society organization needed to be involved. This workshop was organized when discussions to set up a special court in Baghdad started. Since then, a draft law to establish an ISIL court in Baghdad was presented to the Iraqi Parliament but the status of the adoption process remains unclear, and victims groups are again not involved in the discussions.

Haider Elias, President at Yazda, commented:

“Many of the Yazidi families who are victimized by this genocide have put their hope on the work of UNITAD for achieving justice. For seven years now, the Yazidi community is at a crossroads: either stay in their ancestral homeland and remain hopeful, or they lose hope and leave everything behind to migrate and seek a safe haven. What will be done with the evidence collected through this investigation will resonate and affect people’s immediate decision for their future, the least we can do is to consult them. Therefore we call upon the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to involve and consult affected communities of ISIL crimes in the decision making process on accountability in Iraq and KRG, to seek sufficient and appropriate international involvement to ensure the affected community trust the process and to ensure that future trials are conducted in line with due process and international standards.”

For the Arabic version click here .

Download the press release here .

Yazidi Women Seek Justice in U.S. Court for Crimes Committed by ISIL

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 20:36:45 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

April 29, 2021

Contact:

Title:

Email:

Zainab Ahmad

Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LL

zahmad@gibsondunn.com

Yazidi women seek justice in U.S. court for crimes committed by ISIL April 29, 2021 – Alexandria, Virginia

Amal Clooney,the Center for Justice & Accountability (CJA), and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP represent five Yazidi women as victims’ counsel in U.S. prosecution of an accused ISIL member.

On Tuesday, a motion filed by a group of five Yazidi women in the case against ISIL member Nisreen Assad Ibrahim Bahar (also known as “Umm Sayyaf”) before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia became public. The Yazidi women are all victims of horrific crimes perpetrated by Umm Sayyaf and believe that she should be prosecuted in the United States for her role in the genocide of the Yazidis.

“The criminal case in the U.S. represents the only vehicle to hold Umm Sayyaf to account forher horrific crimes against our clients. They have already waited too long for their day in court,” said Amal Clooney. The women survived egregious crimes committed by Umm Sayyaf and her husband, Abu Sayyaf, an ISIL senior leader, as part of ISIL’s campaign to eradicate the Yazidi people. During ISIL’s massacre of the Yazidis in the Sinjar region of Iraq in 2014, four of the women—all of whom were teenagers at the time were kidnapped and

sold as slaves, or sabaya, a central tactic in ISIL’s genocidal campaign.The fifth woman’s 15 year old daughter, Inas, was also held at the Sayyaf house.The Sayyafs enslaved the Yazidi girls at their home in AlShaddadi, Syria. While enslaved, they, along with other Yazidis and a captured American aid worker, Kayla Mueller, were subjected to torture, rape, beatings, and starvation. Umm Sayyaf routinely prepared and led the women and girls to be raped by ISIL militants, including by Umm Sayyaf’s husband and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader and self-proclaimed caliph of ISIL. Kayla was reportedly killed, and Inas was never seen again.

Umm Sayyaf has never been brought to justice for her crimes against our clients. Following her capture by U.S. troops in 2015, the U.S. Government filed a criminal complaint against Umm Sayyaf solely for knowingly conspiring to provide material support to ISIL. But the case has been dormant since that time. “Not with standing her clear involvement in the genocide of the Yazidis, U.S. prosecutors never charged her for any of the human rights abuses she has committed,” said Daniel McLaughlin, senior staff attorney at CJA. “Even with a criminal complaint on file for the past five years, the U.S. has never expanded the charges against her or sought her transfer from Iraq.”

“Our clients have filed this motion to be recognized as crime victims under the CVRA and to ensure they have a voice in the process of holding Umm Sayyaf accountable for her crimes against them,” says Zainab Ahmad, Partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

“This right for victims to participate in the criminal justice process is exactly what the CVRA, which was passed in part to address the limited ability of terrorism victims to participate in the trial of the mastermind of the Oklahoma City bombing, is meant to protect.”

For the Arabic version, click here .

Download press release here .

Joint Statment on Recognition and Remembrance of Armenian Genocide

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 13:21:40 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

April 27, 2021

April 29, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

To commemorate genocide, we must give voice to the Armenians, Assyrians, Syriacs, Yazidis, Chaldeans, and Greeks

Joint communities’ statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

On the eve of the first official United States presidential recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as community organizations representing Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Yazidis, and other organizations who are advocating for victims, we wish to share a recognition of our own.

April 24,1915, marked the day intellectuals and leaders of the Armenian community were killed, initiating a program against the Armenian people. On this day, we must remember the lives lost to genocide. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed. We must also remember that genocide creates a culture of impunity setting a fertile ground for future atrocities and crimes against humanity. Precedence is legitimized when justice is not promptly and fully realized. This is true in the case of the Armenians, as it is true in the cases of other genocides, including

the Da’esh genocide against the Yazidis, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, and others.

As genocide by Da’esh continues in Sinjar, safety and security are also under severe threat as military airstrikes by the Turkish Air Forces continue to bomb villages inhabited by Yazidis. Insecurity is now a chronic ailment, giving no capacity to initiate policies to rebuild Sinjar and return the more than 300,000 people displaced since the start of the genocide. The destruction by Da’esh of Mosul, home to Armenian, Chaldean, and Syriac communities, as well as villages in the Nineveh Plains inhabited by Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, and Yazidis, have made safe return deeply challenging. The Yazidis, Christian communities, and other religious minorities continue to face the threats of further atrocities and even community extermination. Our communities are evidence of how humanity pays the most severe of consequences when

justice is not served.

The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the President of the United States Joseph Biden, following that of U.S. Congress, is a critical milestone. On the occasion of this commemoration, we call for the full, all-inclusive recognition of all acts of genocide that deserve equal honor.

However, it cannot stop at words. It is indispensable that policies and actions preventing and responding to genocide be grounded in comprehensive approaches that ensure accountability and justice for all survivors, families of victims, and communities.

List of co-signatories:

Yazda- Yazidi Global Organization (USA)

The Zovighian Partnership (Lebanon)

Shams Humanitarian NGO (Armenia)

Coalition for Genocide Response (U.K)

Nadia's Initiative (USA)

Emma Organization for Human Development

Eyzidi Organization for Documentation (Iraq)

Hammurabi Human Rights Organization (Iraq)

Assyrian Policy Institute (USA)

Masarat MCMD (Iraq)

Ghasin Al-Zaiton Organization (Iraq)

Methra Organization for Yarsan Cultural and Development (Iraq)

Justice Organization for Minorities Rights (Iraq)

Jiyan Foundation (Iraq)

Harikar Organization (Kurdistan Region)

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For the Arabic version, click here.

For Armenian version click here .

ISIS Member Convicted of Aiding and Abetting Crimes Against Humanity for Enslaving a Yazidi Woman

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:58:57 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

April 22, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Yesterday, the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf convicted a 35-year-old German woman known as ‘Nurten J.’, of committing war crimes and aiding and abetting crimes against humanity for abuses against a Yazidi woman while she was a member of ISIS. She was sentenced to four years and three months in prison.

The trial chamber of three judges found that Nurten J. had moved to Syria in 2015 and married a high-ranking ISIS member. She and her family lived in Syria in apartments that had been seized by ISIS. The judges held, based on the testimony of the Yazidi victim and the defendant herself, that Nurten J. had used a Yazidi woman who had been kidnapped and imprisoned by ISIS for slave labor at her house approximately 50 times. Nurten J. left ISIS when ISIS lost its territory there and she was arrested on her return to Germany in July 2020.

The victim, who participated in the case as a co-plaintiff permitted under German law, is represented by Amal Clooney a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, and German attorneys Natalie von Wistinghausen and Sonka Mehner . She was present in the courtroom when the judgment was rendered and following the judgment she stated: “There is no punishment that could atone for the injustice that has been done to the Yazidi community. For me, it is irrelevant whether the accused is in custody or will eventually be free again. The only thing that matters is that something like this never happens again."

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad , who herself is a survivor of enslavement and torture at the hands of ISIS, commented that: “This verdict is no small win. It is the culmination of many years of advocacy to hold ISIS militants accountable for genocide and sexual violence.The Yazidi survivor represented in this case bravely fought for justice, and today a German court recognized her rights and humanity. This conviction is not only an important precedent for international law, it is also a crucial landmark for the healing of Yazidi survivors. However, there are countless more ISIS perpetrators still walking free and many more survivors awaiting justice. Other countries must now follow Germany’s lead by prosecuting foreign nationals who joined ISIS’ ranks for crimes against humanity and genocide. “Every survivor deserves their day in court and accountability for what was done to them.”

Victim counsel Amal Clooney stated that: “This judgment is a milestone in the fight for justice for the Yazidi genocide. It is a testament to the determination of Germany to go after these crimes, and to the courage of Yazidi survivors who are determined to speak out about what they suffered. It is shameful that after almost seven years there is still no international court to prosecute ISIS for genocide – but we will not be idle while we wait. This is the second conviction in Germany for crimes against humanity, and we are working to achieve many more.”

Natia Navrouzov , Legal Advocacy Director at the global Yazidi NGO Yazda, which is also represented by Ms. Clooney and has helped to identify the victim, adds:

“Once again, Germany shows its willingness to prosecute ISIS crimes and we will continue supporting its investigations as well as investigations of any other country that make justice for ISIS victims a priority. The survivor, in this case, entrusted her story to Yazda and we hope that her example will help other survivors to come forward. We will be there to accompany them on the road to justice that they will decide to follow.”

Note to editors:

The full set of crimes for which the defendant was convicted was: aiding and abetting crimes against humanity (enslavement), serious deprivation of liberty, war crimes against property, membership in a foreign terrorist organization, violations of the German War Weapons Control Act, and neglecting her duties as a parent. The defendant pleaded guilty to some but not all of the charged crimes.
The defendant appealed the judgment.
German law does not permit disclosure of defendants’ full surnames.
The victim is part of a witness protection program. For the victim’s safety, her identity can not be revealed.

Download press release h ere .

For a German version of this press release, please click here .

For an Arabic version, please click here .

Yazda: Statement on the Yazidi New Year “Çarşema Serê Sale”

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:21:31 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

April 13, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Tomorrow, April 14, 2021, we will be welcoming Yazidi ( Êzîdî) New Year, known as “ Çarşema Serê Salê.” Yazidis around the world will come to gather and celebrate this unique occasion, a commemoration of the day in which God (Xûede) completed the creation of the universe, life, and nature; that entrusted into the care of seven Holy Archangels, according to Yazidi Theology The New Year marks a symbolic moment where spring turns the earth into its most lush and vivid state, representing the renewal of nature and hope in the Yazidi faith. This year, Yazidi religious leadership decided not to hold a religious ceremony in Lalish Temple because of the COVID-19 Pandemic spread.

As we welcome and celebrate this holiday, it is necessary to remember the roughly 2800 Yazidi girls and women still missing in ISIS captivity. We also cannot forget the thousands of survivors, widows, and orphans who face enormous difficulties on a daily basis after the genocide.

We remember over 250,000 Yazidis who continue to suffer in IDP camps in Iraq, and after six years are still unable to return home. We also recognize the situation of Yazidis in Syria and the unprecedented threats to their very existence; especially after the Afrin invasion, we remember Yazidis who are living in challenging conditions in Lebanon (Displaced from Syria), Greece, and Turkey.

On this unique occasion, we call upon friendly countries to continue to provide humanitarian support to Yazidis, and other vulnerable minorities, including them in resettlement programs. We call upon the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to exert more efforts in finding the Yazidis who are still missing, bringing justice to the victims, and holding ISIS accountable. We also call on the above parties to put in place serious steps to restore security and stability to the Yazidi areas, especially Sinjar and help Yazidis return to their homes and start rebuilding the region.

On this occasion, Yazda’s leadership, members, and volunteers would like to send their most sincere wishes for peace and protection to everyone in the world, including the Yazidi people.

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For the Arabic version, click here .

Yazda & IOM Met the Iraqi Authorities to Discuss the Survivors Grant Scheme

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 14:38:30 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

April 5, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Yazda, members of the Yazidi Survivors Network and IOM met with the Minister of Ministry of Migration and Displaced, representatives of the Legal Committee of the Council of Representatives, and the Head of DNGOs in Baghdad, to discuss the Survivors Grant Scheme

On March 30th and 31st 2021, Yazda delegates and three members of the Yazidi Survivors Network (YSN) held a series of meetings with Iraqi government representatives in Baghdad to discuss Yazda’s report entitled “Interim Relief Program for CRSV in Iraq – Survivors’ Grant Scheme in practice and recommendations for its improvement” on the challenges and concerns of survivors of ISIS atrocities regarding the process of accessing the Survivors Grant Scheme.

The three meetings were with the Minister Ms. Evan Faiq at the Ministry of Migration and Displaced (MoMD); jointly with Mr. Muhammed Al- Gezzi, the deputy of the Legal Committee in the Iraqi Parliament and Mr. Saib Khider, the Yazidi representative and a member of the Legal Committee in the Iraqi Parliament. The meeting took place with Mr. Ashraf Abdul-kareem Murad, director general of DNGOs Iraq, at the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.

The IQD 2 million scheme is intended as an interim measure, providing a once-off payment to support female survivors of ISIS atrocities. It was introduced by the Iraqi Higher Committee of the Relief and Support of the Displaced, in conjunction with the Ministry of Migration and Displacement.

858 from 899 Yazidi survivors had already received the grant between October and December 2019. According to the statistics of the Office of Yazidi Abductee Affairs, 3,543 survivors have returned from captivity since August 2014, including 1,204 Yazidi women.

Yazda conducted a representative sample assessment of the operation of the scheme, through interviews with 100 survivors, which identified a number of significant challenges requiring attention. A key issue is that survivors - both those who had already received the grant and those still awaiting payment - felt that the application process was complicated and unclear.

A copy of the report was presented in each of the three meetings and Yazda expressed its readiness to offer full support and assistance to governmental offices implementing the scheme.

The YSN members highlighted the great need for such support and for maximum cooperation between all sides. They reiterated the challenges faced during the implementation process and requested urgent prioritizing of issues and concerns ongrant payments and practical and speedy follow-up by all relevant authorities.

Yazda expresses its strong appreciation of the warm welcome and detailed engagement by the various authorities in all three meetings.

Yazda also wishes to thank our partners, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, for supporting Yazda’s advocacy work for survivors.

Download press release he re .

To get the English version of Yazda report on Survivors Grant Scheme, click here .

German ISIS Member ‘Nurten J’. on Trial in Düsseldorf for Crimes Against Humanity Against Yazidis

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:43:11 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

March 23, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Amal Clooney, Natalie von Wistinghausen, and Sonka Mehner represent a victim participating in the case

A German court in Düsseldorf has started the trial of an alleged ISIS member known as ‘Nurten J’ for international crimes committed against Yazidi victims. The Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf is now hearing the case against this 35-year-old woman charged with a number of crimes including war crimes, crimes against humanity, membership in a foreign terrorist organization, and violations of the German War Weapons Control Act.

According to the indictment, the defendant, a German national, traveled to Syria in 2015 together with her then three-year-old daughter to join ISIS. In Syria, she married a high ranking German ISIS fighter named Ismael S. who allegedly worked for ISIS’ media center al-Hayat. The family lived in apartment that had been seized by ISIS from their rightful occupants.Throughout 2016 and 2017, the defendant received regular visits from her friend Sarah O. – another German ISIS member who is on trial before the same Court in Düsseldorf. At the request of the defendant, Sarah O. brought along an enslaved Yazidi woman, who was used by the defendant to clean her house and look after her daughter. The defendant was fully aware that the woman was a Yazidi woman enslaved by ISIS in the course of its genocidal campaign. After ISIS lost its territory in Syria, the defendant and her family were captured by Kurdish forces. Her husband was arrested and put in a Kurdish prison. The defendant and her children were brought to the al-Hol camp.Ultimately, the defendant was able to flee with her children to Turkey and then return to Germany. She was arrested on her arrival on 24 July 2020.

Amal Clooney , a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, and German attorneys Natalie von Wistinghausen and Sonka Mehner represent the Yazidi woman who has joined the criminal proceedings against the defendant as ‘private accessory prosecutor’. She testified in court in Germany on 10 and 17 March 2021 and gave a detailed account of her suffering over a number of years in ISIS captivity, including enslavement, violence, rape, constant fear, and the loss and disappearance of numerous family members. She made it clear to the judges that she was seeking justice not only for herself and her community but also for all other victims of such atrocious crimes.

As she put it: “By speaking up, I want to prevent other communities from having to experience what I have experienced. But if I remain silent and others remain silent as well, and if no one raises their voice, then this is going to happen again and again.”

The victim belongs to the Yazidi community in Northern Iraq that – starting in August 2014 - was targeted by ISIS through a campaign of executions, enslavement, sexual violence, and forced recruitment of child soldiers, as well as the forcible displacement of an estimated 400,000 Yazidis from their homeland. She spent more than three years in ISIS captivity, during which she was sold at a ‘slave market’, given away as a ‘gift’ or in exchange for other Yazidi women fourteen times, and raped by twelve different men.

Speaking about the opening of this latest trial Amal Clooney said:

“Thanks to the incredible bravery of a Yazidi woman and the determination of the German authorities to prosecute genocide and crimes against humanity, survivors of ISIS’ crimes are one step closer to bringing ISIS to justice.”

Natalie von Wistinghausen said:

“The testimony of our client is crucial for the German court and the public to hear and to understand the crude reality and the brutality with which Yazidi women were mistreated and their dignity was taken away from them, not to mention the tragic loss of their beloved ones.”

Sonka Mehner added:

"The opportunity to tell her story in court is an important step to come to terms with her past. Her detailed account still reverberates. She has set a milestone for her people and for herself and has shown incredible strength.”

The victim was identified with the help of the global Yazidi NGO Yazda. The NGO, also represented by Ms Clooney, has been supporting survivors and documenting crimes committed by ISIS since its inception in early 2015. Its documentation project has also been instrumental to the identification of victims in other trials and criminal investigations.

Yazda’s President Haider Elias commented on the trial:

"We commend German federal prosecutors` role in rendering justiceand working on behalf of the Yazidi victims who have been the prey of ISIS barbarity. This event is a milestone for the Yazidi survivors, and we certainly hope many other nations follow this valiant example to bring perpetrators to justice for their heinous crimes".

Note to editors:

German law does not permit disclosure of defendants’ full surnames.
The victims are part of a witness protection program. For the victims’ safety, their identiy cannot be revealed.
The trial against Nurten J. is the fifth trial in Germany in which Ms. Clooney, together with a German co-counsel, represents victims in criminal proceedings against ISIS fighters
In April 2019 the first alleged ISIS member was put on trial in Munich. The German national Jennifer W. has been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity including the murder of a 5-year old Yazidi girl.
One year later, Jennifer W.’s husband and alleged co-perpetrator Taha A.-J. were put on trial before the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt in the first genocide trial against an ISIS member.
Criminal proceedings are also ongoing against alleged ISIS member Sarah O. on charges including war crimes, human trafficking, and deprivation of liberty involving Yazidi victims.
The verdicts in these three cases are expected before the summer.
One ISIS female known as Omaima A. has already been convicted - in October 2020 – of aiding in the enslavement of a Yazidi girl and being a member of a foreign terrorist organization, among other crimes, and is currently serving a 3,5-year sentence.

Download press release here .

For a German version of this press release, please click here .

For an Arabic version, please click here .

Statement by Amal Clooney & Yazda on the Burial Ceremony of 104 Yazidi Genocide Victims in Sinjar

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:08:36 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

February 3, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

On 4 February 2021, in the presence of Iraqi and international officials and Yazidi community members, the funeral ceremony of 104 Yazidi victims of ISIS will take place in Baghdad. These victims were executed in Kocho village, Sinjar, in August 2014. The exhumation process in Kocho started in March 2019 and the last mass grave was excavated in October 2020 . The identification process of the remains was carried out by the Iraqi Medico Legal Department of the Martyrs Foundation, with the assistance of the UN Investigative Team for Accountability of Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP).

On 6 February 2021, the remains will be taken from Baghdad to Kocho, Sinjar, where the families will finally be able to bury their loved ones. The burial ceremony in Kocho will be attended by Iraqi and international officials, as well as thousands of community members. Dozens of Yazidis will also travel from abroad to attend the ceremony and Yazidi religious rituals will be performed on site.

Yazda will accompany the Yazidi community during this difficult and crucial time and will deploy its team of Case Managers, who conducted focal group discussions prior to the burial and who will provide psychological support on the day. Yazda Mobile Medical Unit will provide medical assistance to the community where needed. Yazda Documentation Team will film the official speeches, report on the ceremony and interview the authorities and partners, including the Iraqi Forensic Team and representatives of UNITAD and ICMP. The community will be invited to provide feedback on the process and report any concerns.

As the legal representative of many Yazidi survivors as well as Yazda, Amal Clooney comments on the significance of this event:

“For years, Yazidi survivors have told me of the pain and indignity of not knowing the whereabouts of their loved ones. Many feel that they cannot go home or move forward with their lives so long as their loved ones have not had a proper burial. Finally, after tireless advocacy by Yazda, Nadia Murad, and other brave survivors, some families will have some closure. But of course, so much more needs to be done for this community, the victims of genocide. Although I represent Yazidi victims in a handful of cases before national court, there is still no global legal strategy on the prosecution of ISIS crimes. Investigations led by the UN are an important step; butthey have not led to an international trial. And around 2,800 Yazidis are still missing. I hope that, with a new spotlight on human rights in Washington DC, this can now change.”

Yazda’s President Haider Elias adds:

“For the first time in Yazidi history, the remains of Yazidi victims are returned to their families to be buried in a dignified way. We commend the Iraqi authorities and all the parties involved in the process for this milestone and hope that more remains will be identified in the near future. The identification of the remains is an important step that helps the families and the community to start the healing process.”

Yazda and Amal Clooney wish to extend their sincere condolences to the families of victims and renew their commitments to continue their fight for justice and accountability.

Download press release here .
For the Arabic version click here .
Photo Credit: French Mission to the United Nations

Success Story: 28-Year-Old Saadiya Hussein Turns Around Her Life

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 16:19:47 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

January 25, 2021

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

28-year-old Saadiya Hussein Merza, a native of the Tal Qassad village (Sinjar), was an aspiring hairdresser and sweet-maker, living a simple yet joyous life with lots of friends and family. She talks about how everyone in her small village was very social and life was all about happiness and togetherness.

“Before 2014 [when ISIS attacked], I was going to school withmy friends - my best memories are having lots of fun with myfriends in school. While I didn’t work, I would help my mother with chores. Our house was small and old, but our lives werefilled with such happiness; I miss my

village my friends, and my old life dearly”

Unfortunately, in 2014, life dramatically changed for Saadiya and her village; She remembers being paralyzed with fear and anxiety after learning that ISIS terrorists had surrounded her village Sadiya and her family managed to escape by climbing Sinjar mountain and staying there for a painful ten days. Yet the most painful moment was when she learned that ISIS has captured and murdered the families that remained in Tal-Qassad village – Saadiya lost family and friends due to the brutality and barbarism of ISIS.

“That fateful black day, everything changed in my life. After we escaped, we went towards the border area of Syria to find Kurdish military forces (YPK) - we ended traveling to Iraqi Kurdistan by foot. I vividly remember crying and feeling so lost as my mother was very sick and it was so difficult to witness her pain”

Eventually, Saadiya and her family arrived in Kurdistan-Duhok city, which was in the north of Iraq.The pain and the brutality ISIS caused has deeply scarred Saadiya’s life - Saadiya’s brother and father are unable to work due to suffering from chronic diseases. Additionally, her mother’s chronic diseases (hypertension and diabetes) have flared up since their escape in 2014

“ISIS changed and destroyed my childhood and future. They took my friends and they have turned my former bliss into a hell that I can’t seem to escape”

But due to Saadiya’s determination to provide a good life for her family, along with the Yazda- ASB collaboration that has changed the lives of many Yazidis, there may be a positive change on the horizon. Saadiya (who currently lives in the Al-Shuhada district inside Sinjar city with her

family) enrolled in a Yazda/ASB-led six-month vocational training program, where she honed her sweet-making skills. She has learned important skills and with the financial help provided by Yazda/ASB and relatives, she has been able to open a sweet shop in Sinjar.

“I love working in my shop and a lot of people also visit my shop every day, which is a joy for me Also, I have become the breadwinner of my family and am able to buy daily needs and help with setting up doctors appointments for my parents”

Saadiya states that her future plans solely consist of making sure that her sweet shop is a success. Furthermore, Saadiya wishes to remain in Sinjar city due to the fact that her village was destroyed and burnt by ISIS; she also adds that the security situation must be stabilized and the

government must aid the Yazidi community in rebuilding their villages and lives.

Download press release he re .

Request for the Prosecution of Religious- and GBV in the Yazidi Genocide Case in Germany

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 21:07:24 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

December 17, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Joint Statement by Amal Clooney’s legal team and Yazda: Request for the Prosecution of Religious- and Gender-Based-Violence in the Yazidi Genocide Case in Germany

In the trial against Taha A.-J., a 28-year-old Iraqi national, before the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt, victim’s counsel submitted a request to extend the existing charges against the defendant to include religious and gender-based persecution as a crime against humanity under

Section 7 (1) No 10 of the German Code of Crimes against International Law. Current charges against the defendant include genocide, membership in a foreign terrorist organisation, slavery and torture as crimes against humanity, human trafficking, and war crimes, including the murder of a five-year-old Yazidi girl.

Victim’s counsel Natalie von Wistinghausen comments on the significance of the request:

“There is an urgent need to charge and prosecute acts of religious and gender-based violence committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community in accordance to what they are: deliberate and targeted crimes against humanity which formed part of a pattern and were committed especially against female members of the Yazidi community. This is an important step for the Yazidi community and other victims of gender-based violence.”

Victim’s counsel Amal Clooney says:

“The charges in this milestone case should reflect the full scope of criminal conduct in question. This includes genocide as well as crimes against humanity that targeted women for enslavement and sexual violence.”

Yazda’s President Haider Elias adds:

“Adding religious and gender persecution as crimes against humanity to the existing charges will help to legally qualify the horrific reality Yazidis suffered under ISIS and are suffering for hundreds of years now. Yazidis have indeed a long history of religious persecution exacerbated by ISIS

members who never hide their aversion towards Yazidis calling them infidels and non-believers. From the hundreds of testimonies, we have collected so far, it is also obvious that ISIS extermination plan had a gender dimension:Men fit and strong enough to oppose resistance were executed or used as forced labour before being killed and dumped in mass graves. Women, girls and children were enslaved, used as sex and domestic slaves and forcibly militarised. Therefore we hope that Germany and its legal system will allow the lawyers of the victim in the present case, and in future cases, to establish two essential elements on which ISIS systemally

based its crimes against the Yazidis: gender and religion.”

Background

Yazda, a global Yazidi NGO, has been supporting survivors and documenting these crimes

since its inception in early 2015. Its Documentation Project collects testimonies and preserves in formation. The project was instrumental in the identification of the mother of the murdered five-year-old Yazidi girl who testified in the Taha A.-J. case.

Taha A.-J. was arrested in Greece in May 2019 and subsequently transferred to Germany to stand trial for the alleged crimes. Although Taha A.-J. is not a German national, his victims are not German and his crimes have not been committed on German territory, German courts have

jurisdiction over the crime of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity under the principle of universal jurisdiction. The trial against the defendant began in April 2020.

Amal Clooney , a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, and German attorneys Natalie von Wist-inghausen and Dr. Jörg Oesterle represent the girl’s mother who has joined the proceeding as ‘private accessory prosecutor’. Under German law, victims of grave crimes have such right and can participate fully in the proceedings alongside the prosecutionand defence.

Download press release h ere .

For a statement on the trial against Taha A.-J., please click here .

For a German version, please click here .

For an Arabic version, please click here .

Success Story: Yazda & ASB Set Up a Plumbing Shop for a Man Who Affected by the 2014 Genocide

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 21:38:35 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

December 10, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

31-year-old Emad Obed Khalaf, a Yazidi man currently living with his family, in his village of Kany Aido (Sinjar), was deeply affected by ISIS’ brutality. Before ISIS razed and destroyed the lives of the Yazidi community, Emad owned a plumbing business, which included fixing and changing the plumbing needs of households in Kany Aido. Emad fondly remembers the joyous memories from his village, which were filled with wonderful family and friends.

“I am missing these incredibly happy moments and I hold these memories so dearly - I hope to make new memories full of joy and laughter in my special village of Kany Aido”

With a lot of sadness and grief, Emad describes his memories of ISIS’ barbarity; he remembers waking up in the morning (on the 3rd of August, 2014), hearing the frantic voices of villagers warning everyone that ISIS members were coming to destroy their village and murder everyone. Emad mentions running up onto the roof, looking at families fleeing towards safety.

“Just before ISIS entered and invaded Kany Aido, I spoke to my family members about escaping and since we didn’t have a car, we had to walk towards the mountain, which was a long and difficult journey”

After Emad and his family reached Sinjar mountain, they stayed there for nine days; this was followed by going towards Syria and finally, towards Kurdistan. In Kurdistan, Emad and his family stayed in an IDP camp for 4 years. After ISIS left Sinjar, Emad and his family went back home, but the situation was dire - there were no NGOs helping the Yazidi community, nor were there any open shops or businesses.

For example, Emad had to travel to Sinuni or Tal Afer to purchase basic groceries. After returning to his beloved village of Kany Aido, Emad re-opened his plumbing business - his family and his brothers are helping him with this endeavor. Additionally, Yazda and ASB have helped Emad in expanding his business by providing him with more tools and items that he can sell to customers.

“I want to profusely thank Yazda and ASB for their support, which has allowed my family and me for a restart. This conflict and ISIS’s brutality changed my life as I have lost dear friends, my income, and my business. Yazda and ASB helped me in setting up my business as a plumber and I am very grateful”

Emad plans on expanding his business and wants to employ people in order to help his community- he says his vast experience with plumbing will allow him to create a robust business model. Emad also states that the success of his business will encourage other members of the Yazidi community to return to their villages.

“I don’t want to move from Sinjar as not only are all my customers here, but I am able to support the community that I love so much. I am so happy that Yazda and ASB have supported the Yazidi community”

Download press release her e .

Statement: Yazda Welcomes and Supports the Exhumation of the Mass Graves in Kocho, Solagh-Sinjar

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 21:02:49 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

October 23, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Yazda welcomes and supports the exhumation of the last Mass Grave in Kocho and the exhumation of Mass Graves in Solagh, Sinjar

On 24 October 2020, the Iraqi authorities (the Directorate of Mass graves of the Martyrs Foundation), in cooperation with the UN Investigative Team for Accountability of Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) and the International Commission on Missing Persons(ICMP), will continue the exhumation work started last year and excavate the last and 17th mass grave in the village of Kocho, Sinjar and will begin the exhumation of the mass grave in Solagh, containing the remains of Yazidi elderly women executed by ISIS.

Works are planned to last until mid-November and will result in the transportation of the remains to the mortuary of the Martyrs Foundation in Baghdad where the identification process will resume. The medico legal team of the Martyrs Foundation will collect DNA samples of family members in the coming days.

Yazda welcomes this milestone in the investigation of crimes committed by ISIS against the Yazidi minority in Iraq.

At 11.00am tomorrow, an official ceremony in Kocho will mark this occasion, gathering authorities, specialists and community, to remember and honour the many Yazidi who perished here.

Yazda will accompany the Yazidi community during this difficult and crucial time and will deploy its team of Case Managers who conducted focal group discussions prior to the exhumation and who will provide emotional support on the day at our partner IOM’s tent.

Yazda Medical Mobile Unit will provide medical assistance to the community where needed and Yazda staff will remain available in the coming days at our Duhok, Senuni and Sinjar City offices to answer questions on the process as information made available by authorities. Yazda Documentation and media teams will film the official speeches, report on the ceremony and interview the authorities and partners, including the Iraqi Forensic Team and representatives of UNITAD and ICMP who are conducting the outreach campaign. The community will be invited to provide feedback on the process and possible concerns regarding the exhumation and identification process.

The broadcast on social media will reach those not able to attend, including the Yazidi community worldwide.

Yazda wishes to extend sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones at these sites as well as to the wider community 6 years after the genocide, and to renew its committment to see an advancement of Transitional Justice in Iraq including accountability, the right to truth and reparation programs.

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Yazda Uplifts Members of the Yazidi Community: Helping Falah, a 40-Year-Old Disabled Man

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 21:23:43 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

October 8, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

40-year-old Falah Hassan Haji, a Yazidi man currently living in the Azadi district with his wife, mother, and grandmother, had to leave his village (Kany Aido) and frantically uproot his life after brutal attacks by ISIS. Falah states that his life in Kany Aido was happy - his primary responsibilites were looking after his grocery store, which he described as his pride and joy. He speaks fondly of his memories of Kany Aido, which consisted of many wonderful occasions and parties; his life was simple, but it was incredibly joyous.

“To me, our village (Kany Aido) was so special because everyone felt like family; there were so much love and light in our village. I can’t wait to relive these beautiful memories and reunite with my entire family again”

Falah states that when ISIS attacked his beloved village, he felt an exponential amount of fear, anxiety, and trepidation. After much thought, Falah decided to escape to Sinjar mountain in his uncle's car and eventually reached Kurdistan.

“When ISIS attacked, we were unsure about every potential decision and everything felt so unstable and unsafe. When we reached Sinjar mountain, we were there for approximately twelve hours. I witnessed so much pain, horror and barbarism; the faces of fleeing families during those times were so difficult to witness”

Although ISIS’ attacks devastated Falah and his family, he was able to rebuild his life by moving to the Azadi district (Sinjar city). Yazda and ASB aided Falah in opening another grocery store; because of the store, Falah is now able to financially support his family and community.

“My family and I have been deeply appreciative of the help given by Yaza and ASB to open our beloved grocery store. Yazda and ASB’s support has allowed me to positively change my life”

Falah states that he wants to eventually go back to Kany Aido after the security situation rapidly improves - he also mentions that he would like to move his grocery store back to his village.

“My village and many other villages need a lot of help to not only rebuild their houses, but rebuild their lives. The conflict did devastate my life -

I had to flee my village and my house was damaged. But, I have hope; slowly, but surely, I am building my life back up again”

Download press release here .

ZÊD and Yazda are Pleased to Announce They Have Entered Into a Partnership

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 21:36:53 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

October 6, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Through this partnership, Yazda and Zentralrat der Êzîden in Deutschland (ZÊD) will establish a framework for cooperation on different advocacy levels and work together to fight for justice and human rights and pursue collaborative opportunities that would benefit and leverage the missions of both organizations to support the disparate ethnic and religious minorities in all countries where Yazidis live.

The main focus of this partnership will address the following points:

The recognition of the genocide by the United Nations
Reconstruction of the original areas of Yazidis (Shingal)
Legal prosecution of ISIS for violations regarding international law.

Zentralrat der Êzîden in Deutschland e.V. (ZÊD):

The Central Council of the Yazidi in Germany was founded on January 29, 2017, with 29 Yazidi associations. Currently, it is considered the main partner of German authorities and consists of 34 registered associations.

Thus more than 70% of the Yazidi associations in Germany are members. Yazda is a global organization that strives to bring justice, sustenance, healing, and rejuvenationto minorities who have suffered under or are affected by, the ISIS genocidal campaign. Yazda was founded by Yazidi students and professionals in response to the genocide that began on August 3, 2014. Yazda is a registered nonprofit in the United States, Germany, Iraq, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Download press release here .

For English version click her e .

For Arabic version click here .

For German version click here .

For Russian version click here .

Yazda Sends Condolences to Yazidis After the Death of the Yazidi Baba, H.E. Baba Sheikh Khurto Hajji

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 21:39:12 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

October 1, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Yazda sends condolences to Yazidis after the death of the Yazidi Baba, H.E. Baba Sheikh Khurto Hajji Ismail. We are deeply saddened by the passing of the Yazidi Baba, Sheikh Khurto Hajji Ismail. Yazda`s board, staff, and volunteers send their sincere condolences to Baba Sheikh`s family and all Yazidi people around the world on this sad occasion.

Baba Sheikh was overseeing the Yazidis' religious hierarchy, he was the highest spiritual leader for the Yazidi community and a member of the Yazidi Spiritual Council. He was a peace advocate and loved by all the Yazidis and respected by different communities in Iraq and around the world.

Baba Sheikh was known for his edict which was published in February 2015 welcoming the female survivors of ISIS captivity back into the Yazidi faith and calling on “everyone to cooperate so that the victims can return to their normal lives and integrate into society.” Yazda had the privilege to work with the Baba Sheikh and have his blessing in the past 6 years.

He will remain unforgotten by us and so many around the world. Rest in Peace.

Yazda Board of Directors

Download press release here .

Supporting Sinjar’s Educational Initiatives: Yazda is Assisting Students During Their Final Exams

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 06:42:53 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

September 16, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

In the near future, approximately four hundred students will be undertaking their final exams in the city of Sinjar.

As a continuation of Yazda’s commitment to providing support to Sinjar’s education sector, we have worked with the Sinjar Education Directorate to thoroughly sterilize all three testing centers in the city of Sinjar; this is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect students who are undertaking their final exams. Additionally, essential items such as water, masks,gloves, hand sanitizers were provided to support the students.

This critical sub-project, which supports educational initiatives, is part of the Supporting the Return of IDPs in the Nineveh and Western Nineveh project; this is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) , with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) .

Download press release here .

Yazda Mobile Medical Clinic in Sinjar Doubles its Efforts to Respond to COVID-19

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 09:41:27 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

September 10, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda. org

Yazda’s Mobile Medical Clinic team in Sinjar doubled its efforts in response to the COVID- 19 health crisis, and continue to provide free health care services and medicine to the local communities in 14 villages located on the northern side of the Sinjar Mountain.

In the month of July, the Mobile Medical Clinic Team- which consists of a medical doctor, two nurses, one pharmacist, and driver- provided health services to 1204 patients. This included programs for educating the community about the COVID19 pandemic and the distribution of masks, gloves, and PPE. Additionally, the team provided instructions, physical assessment,and treatment to 214 patients who are suffering from chronic diseases including Diabetes Miletus, hypertension, asthma, and epilepsy.

These village communities were directly affected by the 2014 genocide. Some villagers are survivors themselves, and today have very limited access to healthcare services due to the physically remote location and their socioeconomic status. The villages are located on the slopes of Mount Sinjar and far off main roads and the only access is through unpaved muddy back-roads. During the snowfall and rain in the winter, and with heavy floods in the spring, access can be restricted even further. The majority of the population in these areas are poor farmers and shepherds who rarely leave their home villages.

The mission of this Mobile Medical Unit is instrumental to serve these vulnerable communities and in ensuring they have access to essential and basic health services and medicine, especially during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Yazda is grateful to Stichting Vluchteling for their generous support to the people of Sinjar and to

this important project.

Download press release h ere .

Yazda Provides a New Lease on Life for 62-Year-Old Yazidi Woman

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 07:01:10 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

September 10, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

62-year-old Muhbat Kheder, a Yazidi woman living with her children in Sabahiya village (Sinjar City), lost her husband andescaped to Kurdistan during ISIS’s genocidal attacks on the Yazidis in 2014. When ISIS was preparing to invade Muhbat’s village, she became incrediblyterrified and suffered from exponential levels of stress and anxiety. Fortunately, Muhbat’snephew helped her escape to Mount Sinjar.

“I was in a very difficult situation and all around me, families were crying as they didn’t know if they would survive this ordeal. We were trapped in Mouth Sinjar for six days and were sufferingfrom starvation and thirst. Afterward, we were able to escape towards Syria and after six moredays, we reached Kurdistan” , Muhbat states.

Muhbat ended up living in an IDP camp in Kabarto for approximately 2 years; the camp had very limited access to food, healthcare, and education. After Sabahiya Village in Sinjar City (Muhbat’s village) was liberated from ISIS control, Muhbat was able to return to her home along with herfamily members, who survived ISIS’s brutality.

Yazda, along with its partner Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the support of its partner, has provided support for Muhbat to open a grocery store. Prior to ISIS’s attacks, Muhbat and her family were living a happy life, where she was helping her husband manage their small grocery store; while they lived a simple life, Muhbat’s family and her neighbors lived a life of joy and pride, a life that ISIS single-handedly destroyed with its brutality.

Muhbat’s new lease on life has not only allowed her to enjoy managing her grocery store, but it has made her more driven to expand her knowledge on running a small business. To add, Muhbat is planning to develop her small business and wants to help her family and community through her grocery store.

“I am grateful to Yazda and ASB as they have helped to change my life. Now, I can support my family and my community. Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter is helping me with accounting and book-keeping as I have limited knowledge about financial matters” , Muhbat states.

Muhbat hopes that other organizations can replicate Yazda and ASB’s work to empower the socioeconomic status of her community; “This is one of the best projects in the region and I hope that other organizations can implement such projects to empower my community, who were devastated by the genocide”, says Muhbat.

As a continuation of this project, Yazda has opened 32 non-agriculture businesses and 10 agriculture small businesses so far; furthermore, the Yazda team is in the process of setting up 22 other small businesses projects.

Download press release h ere .

Yazda is Supporting Community Engagement Activities to Restart Life in the Tel-Banat Complex

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 07:49:56 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

September 1, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

The Yazda team in Sinjar provided logistical support to the Evolution of Society volunteer group; this volunteer group worked with the Tel-banat Youth Center to remove signs of ISIS from the neighboring areas of the Tel-banat complex. The symbols and figures were dyed and painted, therefore restoring the complex to its previous beauty.

According to the Yazda team, since the onset of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, 207 families have returned to the Tel-banat complex. These families are preparing to restart their lives, 6 years after the beginning of the genocide. Many other families are planning to return in the upcoming period; these families are in need of humanitarian and relief assistance, in order to meet their daily needs. These families strongly believe that their new lease on life will begin with the removal of the devastation caused by ISIS.

Before erasing them, the Yazda Documentation team has recorded the symbols and devestation caused in Tel-banat since 2017. This is to not only preserve all pieces of evidence that showcase ISIS’ crimes against the Yazidi community but to use them for future investigations.

These community engagement activities are part of “Supporting the return of the IDPs in the Nineveh and Western Nineveh”, a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) , with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) . During the course of this project, Yazda has supported 6 volunteer groups in Sinjar, which have assisted families in returning to their homes.

Download press release here .

Yazda Trained 32 Beneficiaries to Initiate Their Agriculture-Based Small Businesses in Sinjar

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 07:33:52 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

September 1, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

As part of the Livelihood and Agricultural project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the support of its partner Arbeiter- Samariter-Bund (ASB), Yazda provided training on topics such as agriculture and animal husbandry to the 32 beneficiaries in Sinjar; these beneficiaries will own small agribusinesses after completion of the training.

Veterinarians and specialists from the Veterinary Department in Sinuni participated and provided the beneficiaries with the knowledge and skills needed to raise and protect their livestock from diseases, thus helping enhance the region’s socioeconomic status.

Download press release h ere .

Yazda Provided Training to 42 Beneficiaries Who Have Been Selected for Small Businesses in Sinjar

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 09:12:17 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

27th of August, 2020

27th of August , 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

As a part of Livelihood and agricultural project Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with support of its partner Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), Yazda initiated training to 42 beneficiaries (Males& Females) who have been selected based on the vulnerability criteria to run agriculture and non agriculture small businesses.

The training sessions provided online for 3 days about preparing for the business plan and beneficiaries were divided into small groups to commit to the instructions issued by the Iraqi Ministry of health to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The training was provided by specialists and focused on managing a small business, accounting and marketing in addition to how developing their business plans and these opportunities aim to promote the scale of socioeconomic status in Sinjar and strengthen the capabilities of those people who were directly affected by the 2014 genocide campaign.

As a continuation of this project, Yazda has opened 32 small businesses so far, and the rest of the businesses are in the process of setting up.

Download press release h ere .

Yazda's Case Management Team in Sinjar is Providing Essential Needs to 325 Returnees and Victims

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 09:16:46 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

August 26, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda.org

Under the “Supporting the return of displaced population in Ninewa Plains and West Ninewa” in partnership with IOM, funded by USAID, Yazda's Case Management team in Sinjar is providing essential humanitarian aid to 325 returnees and victims of the genocide. Yazda's Case Management team have provided instrumental needs to 335 returnees and survivors in the various area within Sinjar, in order to meet their needs and help their families to restart their lives, after 6 years of the onset of the genocide.

Yazda's Case Management team is working in areas such as Borek, Dogore, Duhola, Gohbal, Khanasour, Sardashti, Sinuni, Zorava, Haran, Kurse, Sardashti camp, Adika in order to provide survivors and victims of Genocide with Case Management services, such as Psychosocial Support, emergency cash support, and referrals to specialized services offered by Yazda or other humanitarian actors.

A complement of this Project is the livelihoods component, where the Case Management team is referring cases to livelihoods team where after beneficiaries receive vocational training and then helps beneficiaries to open small businesses.

Yazda would like to take this opportunity to thank IOM for this partnership in the project implementation and to USAID for the funding of this project.

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Statement on Iraq to Commemorate International Day for Victims of Acts of Violence Based Religion

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 09:28:48 GMT

Date:

Issued on:

Last updated:

August 22, 2020

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

Saad Murad

+1 (402) 484 1852

media@yazda. org ; info@nobodys-listening.com

Joint NGO Statement on Iraq to Commemorate International Day for Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, 22 August 2020

On this day set aside to commemorate victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief around the world, we stand together as civil society actors to honor those who have been persecuted and killed in Iraq for their religion or beliefs. Since the 2003 US-led invasion, Iraq has suffered internecine conflict and state collapse, degrading a once rich cradle of ancient ethnicreligions and cultures. The Christian population, including ethnic Assyrians, which numbered around 1.5 million at thestart of this century, has been reduced to a mere 200,000 today. Other minority communities such as Yazidis, Sabean-Mandaeans, Turkmen, Kak’ais, and Shabaks have faced existential threats in recent years.

ISIS exploited the concomitant deterioration of religious freedoms as part of their genocidal campaign against ethno-religious minorities across the Sinjar region and the Nineveh plains.The targeted violence sought to erase the presence of religious minorities in Iraq altogether, and particularly of the Yazidis, decried by ISIS as devil-worshippers. ISIS executed those who refused religious conversion and destroyed countless shrines, churches, temples, and other cultural sites The effects of religious discrimination against minorities are widespread and intergenerational, as many of the displaced are reluctant to return to their ancestral lands for fear of religious persecution. This situation is compounded by the presence of militia groups in the Sinjar region and Nineveh plains and failures to meaningfully address governance concerns.

We welcome the efforts already taken to safeguard religious freedom and to counter narratives of violent extremism in Iraq, such as the Interfaith Statement on the Victims of ISIL endorsed by religious leaders from the Christian, Sunni, Shia and Yazidi communities, and supported by the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD) and the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect. However, without justice and accountability for past atrocities, religious communities will continue to face persecution and the threat of repeated violence. Improving religious freedom is linked to holding perpetrators of genocide accountable, to providing secure conditions of return for minority communities, and to supporting those who have experienced the trauma of religious violence that drove them from their homeland.

We urge the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the United Nations, and the wider international community to take the following steps:

1. To adopt legislation that ensures reparations for survivors and delivers justice for victims

of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

2. To empower groups working towards social cohesion such as the Yazidi Survivor

Network and the Iraq Religious Freedom Roundtable to advocate for their own interests.

3. To promote religious education across Iraq by means of cultural events and activities that

inform the population about minority communities; integrate education about religious

minorities in the Iraqi school curriculum to combat misinformation.

4. To implement innovative approaches to promote religious and cultural diversity, including

community-based approaches using art and virtual reality technology, such as Nobody’s

Listening exhibition.

5. For UNITAD and the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect

to facilitate a follow-up conference to broaden the endorsement for the

Interfaith Statement by other religious communities

The international community should expand its support for the investigative activities of UNITAD.

Signatories:

1. Aegis Trust (Rwanda/United Kingdom)

2. Air Bridge Iraq - Luftbrücke Irak (Germany)T

3. AlRafidain Peace Organization (Iraq)

4. American Islamic Congress (United States of America)

5. Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (Australia)

6. Assyrian Policy Institute (United States of America)

7. AdvanceUSA (United States of America)

8. Central Council of Yazidi in Germany - Zentralrats der Êzîden in Deutschland (Germany)

9. Citizen Power Initiatives for China (United States of America)

10. CSW (United Kingdom)

11. Coalition for Genocide Response (United Kingdom)

12. Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (France)

13. Défense sans frontière Avocats solidaires (France)

14. European Interreligious Forum For Religious Freedom (France)

15. Eyzidi Organization for Documentation (Iraq)

16. Ezidis Worldwide – Eziden Weltweit e.V (Germany)

17. Genocide Alert (Germany)

18. Ghasin Alzaiton Organization for Youth (Iraq)

19. Global Jothoor Foundation (United States of America)

20. International Christian Foundation for Democracy (United States of America)

21. International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (United States of America)

22. International Dialogue Research and Awareness Centre (Pakistan)

23. International Organization to Preserve Human Rights (United States of America)

24. Institute for Global Engagement (United States of America)

25. Iraq Religious Freedom Religious Roundtable (Iraq)

26. Iraqi National Center for Counter Hatred (Iraq)

27. Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights (Germany/Iraq)

28. Jubilee Campaign (United States of America)

29. Masarat (MCMD - Iraq)

30. Minority Rights Group International (United Kingdom)

31. Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (Canada)

32. Nadia’s Initiative (Iraq/United States of America)

33. Nineveh Center for Minority Rights (Iraq)

34. Nuhanovic Foundation (The Netherlands)

35. Operation Hope (Australia)

36. Panaga Organization for Education (Iraq)

37. Project Abraham (Canada)

38. RASHID International e.V.

39. Refcemi (United Kingdom)

40. Religious Freedom Coalition (United States of America)

41. Religious Freedom Institute (United States of America)

42. Roads of Success (United States of America)

43. Shlomo Organization for Documentation (Iraq)

44. Sunrise Organization for Civil Society Development (Iraq)

45. TAJDID Iraq Foundation for Economic Development (Iraq)

46. Trauma Treatment International (United Kingdom)

47. World Federalist Movement – Institute for Global Policy (United States of America)

48. Voice Of Ezidis (France)

49. Yazda (Iraq/United States of America)

50. Yazidi Legal Network (The Netherlands)

51. Yezidi Emergency Support (United Kingdom)

52. Youth Bridge Development Organization (Iraq)

53. Zarok e. V. (Germany/Iraq)

Download press release he re .

For Arabic version click here .

For French version click here .

yazda

UPDATE : French judge orders trial against female jihadist for complicity in genocide against the Yazidis

Paris Criminal Court Convicts Lafarge for Financing Terrorism in Syria in Landmark Decision Against a Company

Paris Criminal Court Convicts Lafarge for Financing Terrorism in Syria in Landmark Decision Against a Company

Update Hasna A. Case: Dutch Court Upholds Crimes Against Humanity Conviction for Crimes Against Yazidi Survivor

Sabri Essid Trial Updates – Day 1 to Day 5

French ISIS member Sabri Essid convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity against Yazidis

Yazda Testifies at the Paris Assize Court in France’s First Yazidi Genocide Trial

Yazda Testifies at the Paris Assize Court in France’s First Yazidi Genocide Trial

First Trial on Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity Committed Against Yazidis Opens in France

First Trial on Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity Committed Against Yazidis Opens in France

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Yazda formalizes partnership with eyeWitness to Atrocities to strengthen documentation of ISIL crimes

Happy International Women's Day!

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

France: French ISIS foreign fighter Sabri Essid to be tried for crimes against humanity and genocide against the Yazidis

Advancing Justice: Yazda’s Role in the Landmark Taha A. J. Genocide Trial

Advancing Justice: Yazda’s Role in the Landmark Taha A. J. Genocide Trial

Eleven years after the genocide, the people of Sinjar continue to face immense challenges.

Yazda had the honor of welcoming H.E. Mr. Glenn Miles, the Australian Embassy, Iraq, on his first official visit to Sinjar.

From the Netherlands to Sinjar and Duhok: Yazidi Survivors Follow the Landmark Hasna A. Appeal Hearings

From the Netherlands to Sinjar and Duhok: Yazidi Survivors Follow the Landmark Hasna A. Appeal Hearings

Update Hasna A. case: Register to Livestream the Appeal Hearings (9-12 February 2026)

Update Hasna A. case: Register to Livestream the Appeal Hearings (9-12 February 2026)

JOINT OPEN LETTER By Yazda and the Free Yezidi Foundation to the Iraqi Government, the United States, European Countries, and the United Nations

French Prosecutors Seek Genocide Trial Against Lolita C. for Crimes Against Yazidis

French Prosecutors Seek Genocide Trial Against Lolita C. for Crimes Against Yazidis

Urgent Statement & Call for Action: ISIL Prison Escapes in Syria Expose Global Accountability Failures

Urgent Statement & Call for Action: ISIL Prison Escapes in Syria Expose Global Accountability Failures

Update: Lafarge trial concluded before Paris Judicial Court - Decision expected on 13 April 2026

Update: Lafarge trial concluded before Paris Judicial Court - Decision expected on 13 April 2026

Yazda Brings Yazidi Voices to Paris Court in Landmark Lafarge Terrorism-Financing Trial

Yazda Brings Yazidi Voices to Paris Court in Landmark Lafarge Terrorism-Financing Trial

Recent Exhumations in Iraq Reveal 42 More Victims of the Yazidi Genocide

Recent Exhumations in Iraq Reveal 42 More Victims of the Yazidi Genocide

🔴 Update | Lafarge Trial in Paris Resumes Today

�� Update | Lafarge Trial in Paris Resumes Today

Historic Verdict in Brussels: First European Man Convicted of Yazidi Genocide

Historic Verdict in Brussels: First European Man Convicted of Yazidi Genocide

Belgium Opens First Trial for Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity Committed Against Yazidis

Belgium Opens First Trial for Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity Committed Against Yazidis

Lafarge on Trial in France: A Landmark Case for Corporate Accountability in the Financing of Terrorism

Lafarge on Trial in France: A Landmark Case for Corporate Accountability in the Financing of Terrorism

Remains of 22 Genocide Victims Buried in Sinjar

Remains of 22 Genocide Victims Buried in Sinjar

Eleven Years On Honoring Yazidi Victims and Calling for Justice

Eleven Years On Honoring Yazidi Victims and Calling for Justice

Implementing the Yazidi Survivors’ Law, A Review by and for Yazidi Survivors: Yazda Launches Report on the Progress, Gaps, and the Path to Survivor-Led Transitional Justice in Iraq.

Implementing the Yazidi Survivors’ Law, A Review by and for Yazidi Survivors: Yazda Launches Report on the Progress, Gaps, and the Path to Survivor-Led Transitional Justice in Iraq.

Survivors Lead the Way: Yazda Launches New Advocacy Initiative and Justice Report and, 11 Years After the Yazidi Genocide

Survivors Lead the Way: Yazda Launches New Advocacy Initiative and Justice Report and, 11 Years After the Yazidi Genocide

UN Representative Calls for Justice, Dignity, and Lasting Solutions for Yazidis in Iraq

UN Representative Calls for Justice, Dignity, and Lasting Solutions for Yazidis in Iraq

Iraqi Authorities and Yazda Sign Landmark Agreement to Advance Justice and The Search for Missing Yazidis

Iraqi Authorities and Yazda Sign Landmark Agreement to Advance Justice and The Search for Missing Yazidis

France’s Highest Court Orders Reconsideration of Genocide Charges Against French ISIL Member Sonia Mejri

France’s Highest Court Orders Reconsideration of Genocide Charges Against French ISIL Member Sonia Mejri

Germany’s 10th Trial on ISIL Crimes Trial Opens in Munich Against ISIL Couple Accused of Enslaving and Torturing Two Yazidi Girls

Trial Opens in Munich Against ISIL Couple Accused of Enslaving and Torturing Two Yazidi Girls

Yazda Urges Arab League to Prioritize Justice and Minority Rights Following Baghdad Summit

Yazda Urges Arab League to Prioritize Justice and Minority Rights Following Baghdad Summit

Yazda Commends the Exhumation of 13 Yazidi Mass Graves and Kill Sites in Sinjar by Iraqi Authorities

Yazda Commends the Exhumation of 13 Yazidi Mass Graves and Kill Sites in Sinjar by Iraqi Authorities

Yazda’s Statement on International Women’s Rights Day: Advancing Economic Justice for Women and Girls in Iraq

Yazda’s Statement on International Women’s Rights Day: Advancing Economic Justice for Women and Girls in Iraq

Yazda Statement on Its Meeting with the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation in Baghdad

Yazda Statement on Its Meeting with the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation in Baghdad

A Dutch court hands down historic verdict and convicts an ISIL member for crimes against Yazidis in landmark case in Netherlands

A Dutch court hands down historic verdict and convicts an ISIL member for crimes against Yazidis in landmark case in Netherlands

Joint Open Letter by Human Rights Watch and Yazda to the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the Hate Speech Targeting the Yazidi Community of Iraq

Joint Open Letter by Human Rights Watch and Yazda to the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the Hate Speech Targeting the Yazidi Community of Iraq

Under Constant Threat: Yazda Launches Report on Hate Speech Targeting the Yazidi Community in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, Urging Action from Both Governments and the International Community

Under Constant Threat: Yazda Launches Report on Hate Speech Targeting the Yazidi Community in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, Urging Action from Both Governments and the International Community

Important announcement for survivors of ISIL crimes living in France and Germany and wanting to apply to the Yazidi Survivors’ Law

Important announcement for survivors of ISIL crimes living in France and Germany and wanting to apply to the Yazidi Survivors’ Law

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, Receives Yazda, Survivors and Advocates of the Yazidi Genocide at Her Residence for Nobody’s Listening Exhibition

Yazda Condemns Turkish Airstrikes in Sinjar and Calls for Protection of the Yazidi Community

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The Hasna A. Trial – The beginning of a landmark case in the Netherlands for crimes committed by a Dutch national against Yazidi women

The Hasna A. Trial – The beginning of a landmark case in the Netherlands for crimes committed by a Dutch national against Yazidi women

Yazda Urges Arab League to Prioritize Justice and Minority Rights Following Baghdad
Summit