As the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide approaches, prominent Yazidi civil society leaders are calling on the United States to appoint a special envoy dedicated to the security of Sinjar (Şengal), the historic homeland of the Yazidi people. This urgent plea, articulated in an article published on Sunday by the Wilson Center, comes from Natia Navrouzov, Executive Director of Yazda, Pari Ibrahim, Executive Director of Free Yazidi Foundation, Murad Ismael, President of Sinjar Academy, and Lynn Zovighia, founder of the Zovighian Public Office.
The article underscored the dire circumstances faced by the Yazidi community and the pressing need for international intervention. “It has never been so unsafe to be Yazidi in an Iraq that is leaving its historic communities behind while rebuilding the rest of the country with international support,” the signatories stated.
On 3 August 2014, the Islamic State (ISIS) launched a brutal assault on the Yazidis in northern Iraq, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of approximately 200,000 people. Nearly a decade later, many Yazidis remain in displacement camps within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The forthcoming anniversary of the genocide serves not as a milestone of progress but as a stark reminder of unmet promises and ongoing instability in Sinjar.
Sinjar continues to be a conflict-ridden zone, suffering from a lack of basic infrastructure, ongoing hate crimes, and mass graves that have not been exhumed. The Yazidi population has dwindled, with nearly 25 percent emigrating since the genocide.
The letter criticised both the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for their failures in ensuring stability and security in Sinjar. Despite the Sinjar Agreement, endorsed by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq and the international community to foster a sustainable future, the lack of local consultation has undermined trust and hope among Sinjar’s residents.
Historically, the US has been a significant supporter of the Yazidi community, but recent geopolitical shifts, notably the Ukraine conflict, have diverted attention and resources away. This reduction in funding has strained local NGOs, impacting on their ability to provide essential healthcare, education and livelihoods for those Yazidis who have the willingness and ability to return home.
On 23 July, Yazidi leaders met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the situation in Sinjar. They advocated for the appointment of a special envoy with the authority to protect minority communities in the Middle East. This envoy would be instrumental in ensuring the safety and security of Sinjar’s residents, a crucial step for the region’s recovery. Key proposals include establishing a multi-stakeholder oversight body, empowering local governance mechanisms and facilitating independent, fair elections for community representatives.
The plea outlines specific and achievable solutions for Sinjar’s future, including a comprehensive security framework and governance system to replace the Sinjar Agreement which was signed between the KRG and the Iraqi government. The Sinjar Agreement was protested against by the Autonomous Administration of Sinjar, civil organisations and the people of the region, and was accused of being ‘made between the forces that caused the Yazidi Genocide’. The local administration also claimed that the agreement was signed under the influence of Turkey and that the framework of the agreement was created without consulting local people. Turkish military forces regularly carry out airstrikes in the KRI and face accusations of destabilising the region.
