A French heritage report commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron has mentioned Ezidis among endangered peoples whose cultural heritage should be included in wider protection efforts in the Middle East.
The report, titled “Strengthening France’s action in protecting the heritage of the Middle East and supporting the educational network of Christian communities in the region,” was prepared by Charles Personnaz, former director of France’s National Heritage Institute, before his appointment as France’s ambassador to the Holy See.
The report was later published in full by L’Œuvre d’Orient, a French organisation that supports Christians in the East. Although the report mainly focuses on Christian heritage and educational institutions, it also refers to Ezidis as one of the endangered peoples in the region.
The report states that France has historical ties and responsibilities in the Middle East and that its policy should be carried out with respect for all peoples and nations. It calls for special, but not exclusive, attention to Christians and other endangered peoples, including Ezidis.
Personnaz argues that the protection of cultural heritage in the Middle East is urgent because the disappearance or forced departure of endangered peoples would weaken the region’s pluralistic character and damage deeply rooted cultural traditions.
Among its proposals, the report calls on French cultural institutions to highlight the civilisations of Eastern Christians, Ezidis and Jews. It also recommends stronger work to protect written heritage, improve cultural cataloguing, support restoration projects and use French development tools to make this heritage more visible.
