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.



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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:  

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.

 

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

8 March 2025
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

12 February 2025
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

11 December 2024
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.
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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

by Ahmed Burjus • 14 March 2024
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 ### 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

by Ahmed Burjus • 22 January 2024
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 .
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French Supreme Court’s decision of 16 January 2024, on the indictment of the Lafarge company

by Ahmed Burjus • 18 January 2024
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 . ### 300 North 27th Street, Suite C. - Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, USA info@yazda.org - www.yazda.org
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