The 2014 Yazidi Genocide in Sinjar (Shengal) was acknowledged in a 10 August speech to the Australian parliament by Senator David Shoebridge of the Australian Greens Party.
“Today, in this parliament, I want to acknowledge the 9th anniversary of this tragedy and call it what it was: an act of genocide against the Yazidi people at the hands of Daesh extremists. This is a position which has been formally adopted by the UK and German Parliaments and the time has come for Australia to follow suit and acknowledge the acts of genocide against the Yazidi people.
“Acknowledging this history, it is also imperative for the Australian Government and its allies to call on the Iraqi Government to recognise the Yazidi Sinjar Self-Autonomous Administration and urge the prevention of Turkish airstrikes targeting Yazidi community leaders and their environment, which they have a strong religious connection to.
“The destruction of villages and infrastructure at the hands of Daesh and more recently Turkey has forced Yazidi Kurds to flee their homeland and to seek refuge. So aid and economic support must also be provided to support Yazidis to return to the land they are connected with.”
Senator Shoebridge expressed his solidarity with the Yazidi community around the world and, in particular, the Yazidi diaspora in his home state of New South Wales who, he acknowledged “have overcome unbearable violence to form a thriving community and build a fulfilling life here”.
Reported by Peter Boyle
