Navigating conflicting memories: Reconciliation initiatives to engage the Yezidi population in Iraq require an urgent overhaul
XCEPT Briefing Note
By Dr Inna Rudolf
August 2024 marks 10 years since the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) committed genocide against the Yezidi population in Iraq. The terrorist group killed and abducted thousands of Yezidis, subjecting them to sexual slavery, torture, and labour, and hundreds of thousands were forcibly displaced. Today, the Yezidi homeland has still not been rebuilt. Many are unable to, or do not want to, return home. Thousands are still missing, and two-thirds of the population remain displaced.
Based on first-hand interviews with Yezidi communities and diaspora voices, this Briefing Note explores feelings of marginalisation and stigmatisation experienced by many Yezidis. It offers recommendations to rebuild trust and develop effective reconciliation initiatives to support the Yezidi population in Iraq.
Lalish Temple, a sacred Yazidi site, in Iraqi Kurdistan. Credit: Shutterstock/Xanda Photography.
Key Findings:
Yezidis in Iraq continue to grapple with enduring and systemic discrimination, repression, hate speech, stereotyping, and exclusion that predates IS oppression.
The perceived betrayal of the Yezidis by trusted neighbours and friends within Sunni Arab communities has heightened their feelings of insecurity and alienation, against a backdrop of already low expectations concerning the law and the state’s commitment to their well-being.
Cross-generational memories, ranging from systemic repression to recent betrayals, significantly shape the Yezidis’ mistrust and scepticism about the effectiveness of peace and reconciliation interventions.
Policy Implications:
Rebuilding Yezidi trust and forging genuine connections between communities will require acknowledgment of historical injustices and a commitment by the Iraqi government and religious authorities to counter deeply ingrained prejudices.
Facilitated discussions within different communities about contentious historical events can help mitigate re-traumatisation and avoid spurring new tensions between groups. Locally led, intergroup dialogue structured around shared interests has been effective in spurring constructive engagement.
The Yezidi Survivors Law was an important step towards transitional justice – but the credibility of justice and reconciliation efforts hinges on greater accountability, transparency, and responsiveness in its implementation.
Societal discrimination against Yezidis remains rooted in ignorance and misunderstandings about Yezidi culture and beliefs. Revising school curricula and organising cultural exchanges could help forge understanding between communities.
The contentious Sinjar Agreement leaves Yezidi residents caught in tensions between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the federal government, and myriad paramilitaries, with little influence on the fate of their homeland.
With continuing insecurity and few structures in place to support reintegration in Sinjar, there is a perceived hypocrisy to European calls for Yezidis to return.
This publication was produced as part of the XCEPT programme, a programme funded by UK International Development from the UK government. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.
