Yezidi Alliance rejects Baghdad Sinjar meeting over lack of local representation

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Yezidi Cause Alliance has rejected a high-level meeting in Baghdad chaired by the Prime Minister on the Sinjar file, citing insufficient representation of Yezidis and local figures from the district. In a written statement, the alliance's parliamentary bloc head, lawmaker Murad Ismail, said the group was following the Prime Minister and his team's approach to the Sinjar issue "with deep concern." He said the establishment of a senior commission on Sinjar without consultation with directly relevant parties — including Yezidi lawmakers, the Yezidi Cause Alliance and Sinjar residents — was problematic. The alliance argued that the broader meeting did not reflect the voice of the Yezidi component and announced it was rejecting both the meeting and any outcomes it might produce. Ismail stressed that the Yezidi cause cannot be resolved without the direct inclusion of Yezidis and their representatives in the process. The statement also said the alliance remains prepared for constructive cooperation with the government based on mutual respect and partnership.