
Erbil, Kurdistan Region
July 28, 2025
In a speech delivered on Monday at an event hosted by the Yezidi Yazda Organization and the German Cooperation Organization in Erbil, President Nechirvan Barzani addressed the 11th anniversary of the Yezidi genocide. The President reflected on the current situation of the Yezidi community and reaffirmed his commitment to comprehensive support and the protection of their rights.
Mr. Dilshad Shahab, Presidential Assistant and Spokesperson for the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region, represented President Nechirvan Barzani at the event. He was joined by a delegation from the Presidency and delivered the President’s speech.
In his address, President Nechirvan Barzani emphasized that the Kurdistan Region will continue its efforts on the international stage to strengthen recognition of the Yezidi genocide. He also reassured the Yezidi community that as long as there remains even one Yezidi abductee, the efforts of the Office for Rescuing Abducted Yezidis will carry on to rescue them and uncover their circumstances.
The following is a transcript of the President’s speech read by Mr. Dilshad Shahab at the event:
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning,
Welcome to everyone present at this ceremony.
In the coming days, we will observe the 11th anniversary of the Yezidi genocide. Each year, the Kurdistan Region, alongside all its components, like many other bitter memories, remembers this tragic event with profound grief, honoring the memory of all the victims of this heinous crime. A crime and a genocide unparalleled in history, perpetrated by the terrorist organization ISIS in Sinjar and other Yezidi areas, targeting innocent Yezidi civilians.
We express our gratitude to the Yazda Organization for organizing this event, with the assistance of the German Cooperation Organization, aimed at commemorating this anniversary. It is praiseworthy that the rescued Yezidi boys and girls, who were previously kidnapped by ISIS, play a significant role in the preparation, organization, and execution of this activity. This reflects their strength, resilience, and determination to rise and move forward.
I extend my congratulations to those who have successfully finished the Know Your Rights training program. Additionally, I express my support for the rights, recommendations, and requests of the survivors concerning the Yezidi Survivors Law in Iraq.
It is our responsibility to gather here today. We convene to reaffirm our preparedness and commitment to providing unwavering support to our Yezidi citizens. Let us tell them: You are not alone; we stand by you as we always have, and we will continue to stand by you for eternity.
In spite of the suffering endured in the past, we gaze towards the future with optimism. United, we shall stand together and collaborate to mend the profound wounds that we recognize are not easily healed. The people of Kurdistan have experienced numerous tragedies and genocides throughout their history, yet they have consistently emerged stronger. We shall not forget the victims and their suffering; however, we are confident that we will triumph over this adversity together.
Distinguished guests,
It is deeply disheartening and concerning that, eleven years following the genocide of the Yezidi, almost half of the primary and original members of our society continue to live in displacement and camps, enduring challenging circumstances. They are facing severe economic, social, and psychological hardships. Their regions remain unreconstructed, and there is insufficient peace and stability to facilitate their return. Most pressing of all is the absence of justice for the Yezidi community.
In 2014 and subsequent years, as ISIS was just a few kilometers away from our cities, our budget from Baghdad was severed. The Kurdistan Region faced significant economic and security challenges; however, it welcomed all Iraqi components with open arms. These communities were escaping terror and violence, seeking refuge in Kurdistan.
During that period, the people of Badinan specifically, along with the broader Kurdistan Region, demonstrated remarkable bravery by welcoming victims into their homes, schools, mosques, and churches. This act of kindness is a profound source of pride and appreciation that will remain in our memories. Since that time, the Kurdistan Region has made every effort to assist the refugees, particularly the Yezidis; however, truly that is not enough.
We are acutely aware, and it pains our conscience to witness a Yezidi child born in the camps, is now 11 years old, enduring a harsh life and environment. The existence in the camps represents a continuation of the suffering that commenced 11 years ago. It is unjust for a citizen of Iraq, a nation endowed with wealth and resources, to remain in camps for 11 years! Humanitarian assistance is perpetually insufficient for the Yezidis, and the situation is far more complex than that.
The Iraqi government has an obligation to improve the treatment of its Yezidi communities and to regard their needs with greater seriousness. It is fundamentally the responsibility of the Iraqi government to ensure that Sinjar and the Yezidi regions do not turn into a battleground for armed factions and militias. The government must work to reestablish peace, security, and essential services in Sinjar and surrounding areas, thereby reassuring the Yezidis that they can safely return and rebuild their communities.
We emphasize once again the necessity of executing the agreement established between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal Iraqi Government to restore normalcy in Sinjar and to elevate its status to that of a province. Sinjar must not remain a battleground for armed factions and the pursuit of regional interests indefinitely. The persistence of this condition in Sinjar and its vicinity represents a significant injustice to the Yezidi community, who deserve support to heal and restart their lives.
It is also the responsibility of the global community to assist the Yezidis, aid in the reconstruction of their ravaged territories, and support their pursuit of justice and accountability for the offenders. We express our gratitude to all nations that have acknowledged the Yezidi massacre as an act of genocide. Our commitment to advocating for international recognition of this genocide will persist. Safeguarding an indigenous community within the Kurdistan Region and Iraq is not only our obligation but also a responsibility shared by all of humanity. It is imperative that everyone fulfills their obligation toward the Yezidis.
We assure all our Yezidi sisters and brothers that whenever and wherever it is needed, we will defend them and be their protectors. I also want to emphasize again that our Office for Rescuing Abducted Yezidis will continue its work, and as long as even one single Yezidi remains kidnapped, it will do whatever is necessary for their rescue or for revealing their fate.
We know well that for numerous Yezidi families who remain unaware of the whereabouts of their missing children and relatives, the past eleven years have brought no change, and they continue to endure the same anguish. Our compassion is with them, and we assure them: We will persist in our efforts until we receive definitive information regarding the fate of their loved ones.
Salutations to the memory and spirits of the Yezidi victims, as well as to the unwavering determination and resilience of the Yezidis. Salutations to the memory and spirits of all the valiant Peshmergas who sacrificed their lives to liberate Sinjar and all communities in Kurdistan and Iraq, guided by the leadership of President Masoud Barzani.
Thank you very much.



