Following the Iraqi Ministry of Migration’s federal court complaint against the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Barzani family for obstructing Yazidis’ return home, the Sinjar’s (Şengal) Yazidi population voiced strong support for legal action.
“Those who claim to own Sinjar have been the greatest oppressors of the Yazidis. The Barzani family and KDP’s ongoing policies prevent our people from returning, aiming to detach us from our lands and heritage,” said Haydar Yusuf, a member of the Borikê People’s Council, speaking to RojNews on Monday.
This call for accountability stems from years of displacement following the ISIS attack on 3 August 2014, which forced thousands of Yazidis into exile. Despite the liberation of Sinjar and efforts by the Sinjar Autonomous Administration to facilitate returns, members of the Yazidi community state that the KDP’s policies have effectively held Yazidis captive in camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Tewra Feqîr, another council member, accused the Barzani family of being directly responsible for the 2014 genocide and of continuing to obstruct the Yazidis’ homecoming. “Sinjar is the land of the Yazidis, and we shall pursue our cause on this soil. We, too, are plaintiffs against Masrour Barzani, Nachirvan Barzani and Rêber Ahmet,” Feqîr said, emphasising the Yazidis’ resolve to fight for their rights and land.
Şervan Şengalî, also from the Borik People’s Council, insisted on the necessity of prosecuting the Barzani family for their historical and ongoing violations against the Yazidi people. “The Yazidi community urges the Iraqi government to assist in our return home. The Barzani family’s actions not only keep our people in camps under duress but also alienate them from their faith and culture,” Şengalî explained, calling for a collective Yazidi return to reclaim their homes and heritage against the backdrop of systematic oppression.
