Understanding the Yazidi Genocide
Written by Gianna Furnari
Edited by Lote Līva leimane
*This is a fact checked piece*
The Yazidi Genocide is a horrific chapter in recent history, marked by widespread violence and sexual slavery perpetrated against the Yazidi people, a small ethno-religious minority primarily located in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. With a population estimated at around 400,000, the largest Yazidi community resides in northern Iraq.
Yazidism, the religious faith practiced by the Yazidis, incorporates elements of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Despite its syncretic nature, Yazidism has been misunderstood and misrepresented by outsiders. This misunderstanding was exploited by the Islamic State (ISIS) when it rose to power in 2014.
Driven by their extremist interpretation of Islam, ISIS militants targeted the Yazidis for their religious beliefs, branding them as "devil worshipers" and declaring their faith as "unholy." This ideological hatred translated into brutal violence against the Yazidi community, particularly when ISIS invaded northern Iraq in June 2014. Men were massacred, women and children were abducted, and entire villages were razed to the ground.
The plight of Yazidi women and girls under ISIS rule was especially horrific. Thousands were captured and subjected to sexual slavery, enduring unspeakable acts of violence and exploitation. This systematic campaign of sexual violence aimed to terrorize and demoralize the Yazidi community, leaving deep scars that continue to haunt survivors to this day.
In response to the Yazidi Genocide, the international community rallied to provide humanitarian aid and support to the displaced and traumatized Yazidi population. However, the road to recovery has been long and arduous, with many challenges still remaining. Yazidi survivors continue to grapple with the physical and psychological scars of their ordeal, while their communities struggle to rebuild in the wake of destruction.
Efforts to seek justice and accountability for the perpetrators of the Yazidi Genocide have been ongoing, with trials and investigations at international courts and tribunals. However, much work remains to be done to ensure that those responsible for these heinous crimes are held accountable and that justice is served for the victims.
The Yazidi Genocide serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human rights and the enduring power of hatred and intolerance.