Ezidi genocide anniversary commemoration in Mosul draws lawmaker's protest

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A formal conference was held in the provincial capital of Nineveh to mark the 12th anniversary of the August 2014 genocide carried out by ISIS against the Ezidi community in Sinjar. The event was attended by Nineveh Governor Abdulqahar al-Dahil, security officials and Ezidi community leaders. Speaking at the conference, al-Dahil said that more than 12 years after the genocide the wounds remain fresh. He called on the government and parliament to establish a dedicated fund for the reconstruction of Sinjar, clarify the fate of the missing and ensure conditions for the safe return of displaced residents. Ezidi lawmaker Murad Ismail withdrew from the program during the event, saying the conference did not adequately represent the Ezidi community. He argued that the format failed to account for the political balance among Ezidis and urged local authorities to listen to what he described as the genuine voice of the community. In August 2014, ISIS attacked Sinjar, home to a predominantly Ezidi population, killing hundreds of civilians and abducting more than 5,000 women and children. No further details on the next steps of the commemoration were immediately available.