The Yazidis, a small religious group found mainly in the mountainous regions of Iraqi Kurdistan, have a rich and tragic history. First, their unique faith, which combines elements of Zoroastrianism, Islam, Christianity, and ancient Mesopotamian culture, which survives based on its endurance, resistance and independence, has set itself apart from the surrounding communities for centuries. However, this distinction, on the other hand, has left the Yazidis vulnerable to severe persecution and violence throughout their history. The most painful episode of this ongoing oppression for them was the genocide committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2014.
After 2014, debates about the ethnic origins of the Yazidis have intensified, especially following ISIS’s attempt to exterminate them. Some groups tried to call them Kurds, while others said they were Arabs, as if their problem was due to a lack of clear information or heritage. According to Christine Allison (2014), for example, the Yazidis are a Kurdish-speaking religious minority of about 500,000 people; mainly living in Iraq after centuries of settlements throughout Turkey, Syria, and Iran. However, some sources claim that the Yazidis are descended from Arabs, but this argument about their ethnicity gives them a slight edge. Whether written in Kurdish or Arabic, they are always vulnerable to the threat of Islamic ideology in the region. As a non-Abrahamic religion, they are often considered “other,” many calling them “devil worshippers,” which has led to demonic possession and persecution. Birgül Açikiyildiz says that both European and Islamic scholars have wrongly equated the Peacock angel, or Melek Tawus, with the devil from Abrahamic religions. For the Yazidis, however, Melek Tawus is one of the seven divine beings, not a version of the devil. This misconception fueled ISIS’s justification for genocide, accusing the Yazidis of being “infidels” and “infidels.”
Continuous attacks have dispersed, diminished and marginalized the Yazidis over the past 100 years. During the Ottoman Empire, the Yazidis were often guided by their beliefs, facing many attempts to forcefully convert them to Islam. This cycle of persecution continued under various regimes, including Saddam Hussein’s Baathist government. Under Hussein, the Yazidis experienced Arabization efforts. In the late 1960s, for example, Baathist governments forced the movement of hundreds of thousands of Yazidis, confiscated their property, and destroyed 200 Yazidi villages in Sinjar. Thousands of Yazidis were then moved to newly built collective towns, known as Mujamma’at, far from their fields and villages (4). This facilitated the suppression of any form of organized political opposition to the Iraqi government in the northern parts of the country.
The most notable persecution was during the 2014 ISIS attack on Mount Sinjar, which resulted in mass killings and enslavement. The community, now largely displaced, faces threats to its traditional practices and identity, as younger generations seek justice and modernization amidst the challenging experience of living abroad. ISIS, seeing the Yazidis as apostates, balanced their brutal actions with an extremist ideology that advocated the destruction of those who did not conform to their particular definition of Islam. ISIS killed more than 5,000 Yazidis, forcibly abducting more than 7,000 women and children—many of whom were sold into slavery and tortured. About 400,000 Yazidis fled to the Kurdistan region of Iraq as tens of thousands were trapped in Mount Sinjar with very little food. The cutting off of all means of escape by ISIS fighters, mass killings, forced conversions, and systematic sexual violence took place. As a result, in 2016, the UN, together with a number of international human rights organizations and various governments, described these atrocities as acts of genocide. This recognition was supported by the clear intention to destroy the Yazidi people, their culture, and their faith.
The results of the genocide left the Yazidi community in ruins. Thousands of Yazidis are still missing, and those who survived are suffering from psychological trauma. A study (2020), designed to investigate the long-term psychological effects of Yazidi women who survived sexual violence and other forms of persecution by ISIS, reveals a high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety among survivors, indicating profound mental health challenges they face. The physical and emotional wounds caused by the genocide are deep, and the Yazidi community continues to deal with the grief of lost loved ones, displacement, and the constant threat of violence.
The local and international communities have somewhat acknowledged the pressing need to assist the Yazidis in their recovery. However, greater efforts are still needed to ensure the safety, peace, and long-term well-being of this community. An important step involves ensuring that those responsible for the killings face justice. This includes prosecuting ISIS fighters for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Although Iraq is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), preventing the ICC from holding the state directly responsible for the Yazidi massacre, other legal avenues exist. The ICC can acquire jurisdiction if the UN Security Council appeals or if the persons involved are nationals of member states or have committed crimes on the territory of a member state. Additionally, international jurisdiction allows other countries to prosecute perpetrators of genocide, ensuring that justice can still be served through international processes even if Iraq itself cannot be directly prosecuted by the ICC.
In addition, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) could be held accountable for its role in the Yazidi genocide if an impartial investigation found that its withdrawal of Peshmerga forces from Sinjar in 2014, without opposition, deliberately allowed the extermination campaign of ISIS. Such an investigation will need to determine whether the KDP’s actions—or lack thereof—contribute to ISIS’s ability to hold Sinjar and target the Yazidis. If evidence shows that the KDP’s withdrawal facilitates ISIS atrocities, the group could face accountability under international law for failing to protect civilians and possibly facilitating genocide by inaction.
To facilitate their recovery, it is important to provide compensation and compensation. This could include financial support for survivors, as well as help rebuilding homes, educational institutions, and places of worship destroyed by ISIS. Collaborative efforts between governments and international organizations are essential to develop effective mechanisms to deliver these compensations. It is also important to provide culturally appropriate and accessible mental health services to all Yazidis. This program should include the training of local health professionals, the establishment of counseling services, and the provision of long-term support to facilitate the healing of survivors.
The security of the Yazidi community needs to address the ongoing threats from the remnants of ISIS and other extremist groups in the region. The international forces, in cooperation with the Iraqi government and the Kurdish authorities, and with the strong commitment of the local people as they are affected by some important speeches and procedures, should strengthen their efforts to disperse these groups and avoid any attacks on the Yazidi people. In addition, it is important to ensure the safety of displaced Yazidis not only living in camps but their homes by providing adequate security and preventing any forced return to dangerous areas.
Education and cultural preservation are both important in empowering the Yazidi community and helping them recover from the pain they have endured. For example, creating educational opportunities for Yazidi children and young adults, many of whom were denied education during ISIS rule, is essential. This includes building and recruiting schools, providing scholarships, and developing training programs that equip them with the skills to rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities. Equally important is the preservation of Yazidi culture and identity, as the genocide targeted not only the population but also their cultural and religious values. Documenting Yazidi history, language, and religious traditions, as well as promoting cultural activities such as festivals, art, and music, are important to the community’s healing process. International organizations can support these efforts by providing funding and ensuring that Yazidi culture is passed on to future generations.
Resettlement and integration are critical challenges for many Yazidis, as returning to their homes in Sinjar remains impossible due to ongoing insecurity and destruction of infrastructure. Resettlement programs should prioritize the most vulnerable, including survivors of sexual violence, orphans, and those with medical needs, while ensuring their integration into new communities for housing, employment, and social services. In line with this, advocacy and awareness-raising efforts are essential to keep the Yazidi genocide and their current struggles at the forefront of international attention. Global advocacy should push for continued support from governments and international organizations, promote initiatives such as the International Day of Remembrance of the Yazidi Genocide, and ensure that Yazidi voices are included in discussions of human rights and genocide prevention. Additionally, the history of the Yazidi genocide and other oppressed peoples in the region should be integrated into the Iraqi and Kurdish education curriculum, promoting understanding and preventing future atrocities.
Discrimination Law, or the absence of anti-discrimination laws in Iraq and Kurdistan, allows continued atrocities against Yazidis and other minority groups. Hate speech and other forms of degrading treatment and discrimination continue to be directed at these communities. This highlights the urgent need for anti-discrimination laws to be enacted to protect these vulnerable groups. However, the current serious efforts of the Kurdistan Center for International Law regarding such a legal project should be supported, especially to reduce or prevent cases like this.
The narrative of the Yazidi people shows the enduring strength of a community that has endured centuries of oppression and violence. The atrocities committed by ISIS mark the most tragic period in their history. However, this event does not mark the end of the Yazidi experience, as the fundamental elements of their persecution and genocide remain intact. With adequate support from local, regional, and global businesses, Yazidis have the power to rebuild their lives, protect their cultural heritage, and seek justice for the atrocities they have suffered. By addressing the key issues that contribute to their suffering and providing essential medical resources, local and international communities, governments such as Baghdad and Erbil, the various religions and ethnicities of Kurdistan, Iraq, and the region can help the Yazidis break this cycle. of oppression and promoting a future characterized by peace and security.
Further Studies in E-International Relations
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