March News from the Free Yezidi Foundation

MARCH 2023 - NEWS AND UPDATES

Dear friends,

Please read below for our news and updates for the month of March.

FYF VISIT TO NORTHEAST SYRIA

FYF visited the infamous Al-Hol camp, in Northeast Syria, which houses more than 50,000 residents affiliated with ISIS. FYF and others continue to search for the more than 2,500 Yezidis who remain missing and unaccounted for in the aftermath of the Yezidi Genocide perpetrated by ISIS. The purpose of the visit was both to understand how to scale up rescue efforts of missing Yezidis and to improve the flow of information related to justice and accountability for the crimes committed by male and female ISIS members. More information on the visit to Al-Hol is available here.

FYF also met with authorities in the Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria (AANES), including Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) chief Mouzlem Abdi and YPJ leader Newroz Ahmed.

FYF MARKS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN BAGHDAD WITH UNITED NATIONS

FYF partnered with the UN Investigative Mechanism on Daesh crimes, UNITAD, to mark International Women’s Day this year with an event at the UN compound in Baghdad. FYF’s crafts and enterprise initiative provides training and skills to Yezidi women artisans so they can learn business skills and sell their items, thereby supporting their families and improving their standing as economic actors in society.

FYF also held an internal organizational event at the FYF Enterprise & Training Center. FYF is a women-led organization, with a staff consisting of more than 90% women.

FYF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR VISITS ENTERPRISE & TRAINING CENTER TEAM

FYF’s Executive Director Pari Ibrahim visited the Enterprise & Training Center (ETC) to speak with the Yezidi women artisans and review the products they have crafted. Ms. Ibrahim met with Kafia, who is designing the products and working with the artisans on a daily basis. She also met with Khalida, who is overseeing the entire ETC.

FYF SUPPORTS YEZIDI SURVIVORS AT HAMADAN MASS GRAVE EXHUMATION

From 4-6 March, the Yezidi community conducted solemn ceremonies to mark the exhumation of the Hamadan mass graves. Families mourned their loved ones while community members supported each other during the painful exhumation process. FYF’s MHPSS team was among those assisting families of those killed and left in the mass graves. FYF and other Yezidi organizations and activists remain frustrated that Yezidis killed by ISIS in the Yezidi Genocide remain in mass graves more than eight years later. FYF notes that this is a symbol of neglect and marginalization that affected these individuals in life and even after death. The exhumation was conducted by the Iraqi government in coordination with UNITAD.

FYF CONDUCTS MEETINGS WITH KRG OFFICIALS IN ERBIL

FYF met with senior KRG officials to discuss several topics relating to the situation of displaced Yezidis. This included Foreign Relations chief Safeen Dizayee, Minister of Interior Rebar Ahmed, and Minister of Education Alan Hama Saeed. FYF underscored the importance of a voluntary, safe, dignified return of displaced Yezidis to Sinjar, while also emphasizing the importance of better services and protection for those who remain displaced. FYF also discussed the need for justice and accountability in the aftermath of the Yezidi Genocide. Finally, FYF emphasized education as a top FYF priority for displaced and returned Yezidi civilians alike.

FYF SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH DIRECTORATE OF SURVIVORS' AFFAIRS FOR THE PROVISION OF MHPSS SERVICES

The Free Yezidi Foundation and seven other non-governmental organizations were selected to sign agreements for mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS) referrals with Iraq’s Directorate for Survivors’ Affairs. The Directorate was formed to implement the Yezidi Survivors’ Law that was passed in Iraq’s Parliament in 2021. FYF’s Iraq Country Director, Hewan Omer, signed the agreement with the Director of the Directorate, and also offered a presentation on FYF’s current and prospective MHPSS profile. The provision of MHPSS services is of enormous importance to the highly traumatized Yezidi community in the aftermath of the Yezidi Genocide perpetrated by ISIS.

FYF PARTICIPATES IN USCIRF FREEDOM OF BELIEF EVENT IN WASHINGTON

FYF joined a panel at a ‘Women at the Table’ event on accelerating freedom of religion or belief hosted by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in Washington. FYF met with USCIRF commissioners and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges facing the Yezidi community, with a focus on Yezidi women. USCIRF is an influential body in the United States that focuses on protecting religious freedom and rights around the world.

FYF ABHORS TURKISH AIR STRIKE IN SINJAR

FYF expressed outrage at another targeted assassination of Yezidi Genocide survivors in Sinjar conducted by the Turkish Air Force in early March. While legitimately seeking humanitarian aid in the aftermath of the earthquake, Turkey is simultaneously assassinating Yezidis in Sinjar. FYF and other Yezidi organizations and activists abhor the continued military operations conducted in Sinjar, further destabilizing the area and frightening genocide survivors seeking to rebuild and recover.

DID YOU KNOW?

FYF conducted several meetings with local and international stakeholders throughout the month of March.

FYF meeting with US Deputy Consul - Erbil
Virtual presentation of Waheeda Omer at UN Human Rights Council event
FYF meeting with UN Office - Erbil
FYF meeting with Yazda President
FYF participation in Erbil Forum Roundtable on Religious Freedom
FYF meeting with Assyrian Aid Society

Thank you all, as always, for your steadfast support for FYF and the Yezidi community.

Sincerely,

Pari Ibrahim
Executive Director
Free Yezidi Foundation

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Free Yezidi Foundation · Khanke · Duhok Province -- · Iraq