A new report reveals a sharp rise in suicide cases in Mosul and Shingal, exposing the deepening psychological and social struggles faced by the Ezidi people and other minorities. Between January and September 2025, 84 suicides were recorded in Mosul and 16 in Shingal, most among young people still affected by war, displacement, and trauma.
After years of displacement and political neglect, the Ezidi people are demanding genuine representation. With the Ezidi Cause Alliance uniting candidates across the country, this election marks a defining moment to reclaim their voice, rebuild Shingal, and ensure that Ezidis — not outside powers — shape their own future.
More than a decade after ISIS destroyed Shingal, Germany is urging Iraq to speed up reconstruction of the Ezidi homeland. Despite new laws and aid projects, most Ezidis remain displaced, and rebuilding has stalled amid political tensions and insecurity.
When a Kurdish designer presented a traditional Ezidi dress on the runway in Milan, many applauded the gesture as a sign of inclusion. But is it really recognition—or appropriation? For Ezidi Times, the question runs deeper: why must Ezidis rely on others to showcase their traditions, and what does it mean when their heritage is absorbed into a broader Kurdish narrative? At stake is not just fashion, but the survival of an ancient people’s identity.
Armenia has made progress in supporting minority languages, including Ezidi, but challenges remain in education and protection. Expanded school programs and radio initiatives help, yet teacher shortages and limited offerings threaten language survival. Upcoming legislation offers a key opportunity to safeguard the Ezidi language and culture.
The documentary “Hawar, Our Banished Children” exposes the hidden trauma of Ezidi women raped by ISIS, who now search for the children born from these assaults. With 3,000 women still missing, the film highlights ongoing genocide, the rejection of these children by the Ezidi people, and the first European trials of jihadists for these crimes.
Ezidi wrestler Malkhas Amoyan makes history once again, claiming his second World Championship title in the 77 kg Greco-Roman category with a decisive 10–1 victory over Japan’s Olympic champion Nao Kusaka. Returning to Yerevan, he was celebrated by fans and the Armenian Ezidi community, solidifying his status as the “Ezidi Lion” and an inspiration for young athletes worldwide.
The Ezidi Dilşah Dungeon in Van, Turkey, built in the 18th century by Kok Ağa and later overseen by his daughter Dilşah, is now at risk of collapse. Once part of the Ezidi justice system, the site has been heavily damaged by treasure hunters and neglect. Locals see it as both a historical monument and a place of memory, but without urgent protection, this rare piece of Ezidi heritage may soon disappear.
Nearly 300 long-forgotten photographs of the Ezidi people, taken in northern Iraq during the 1930s, have been rediscovered in an American museum archive. The images, showing weddings, shrines, and daily life, offer a rare glimpse into Ezidi heritage nearly erased by ISIS, and are now being shared with Ezidis in Iraq and across the diaspora.
Duhok FC removed the sacred Ezidi sun symbol from their new shirt under pressure from Islamist voices. Eleven years after the 2014 genocide, hatred and cultural erasure persist, and the Ezidi identity is still denied recognition.
Tens of thousands of displaced Ezidis remain in Duhok camps as attempts to return to Shengal are stalled by destroyed homes, lack of services, and security instability.
As the Mosul Dam reservoir recedes to its lowest levels in nearly a century, archaeologists are uncovering not only 2,300-year-old Hellenistic tombs but also traces of Ezidi heritage once submerged beneath the Tigris. In recent years, a long-hidden Ezidi village, a 1961 tomb, and even a school in Hanke have resurfaced, reminding the world that Ezidi history in northern Mesopotamia — tied to the faith of Sharfadin — cannot be erased by dams, drought, or displacement.
Iraq has begun the long-delayed excavation of the Khasfa mass grave near Mosul, a vast sinkhole where ISIS executed and buried thousands during its rule. Believed to hold at least 4,000 victims — including Ezidis, soldiers, and civilians — the site is one of the largest and most complex in modern Iraqi history. Forensic teams face immense challenges, but the work offers families of the missing a fragile hope for answers and dignity after more than a decade of silence.
On 12 August 2025, the remains of 22 Ezidi victims of ISIS were returned to Sinjar for burial following DNA identification in Baghdad. This marks the seventh official handover since 2021, as authorities continue to exhume and identify victims from mass graves across the region. The process underscores the scale of the atrocities committed during ISIS’s 2014 assault and the ongoing efforts to allow families to bury their loved ones according to Ezidi tradition and the faith of Sharfadin.
On 31 July, Mohamed Al Hassan, head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), stood in front of displaced Ezidi families in a camp in Duhok and said that the United Nations is “working diligently” to implement the so-called Sinjar Agreement — and then, without shame, admitted there is Read more
On August 3, 2014, the Ezidi people of Sinjar were targeted for extermination by ISIS. Thousands were killed, enslaved, and displaced. The genocide aimed to erase not only lives, but identity, culture, and the ancient faith of Sharfadin.
Eleven years later, justice remains out of reach. Sinjar is still unsafe. Survivors are still waiting. And Iraq has yet to formally recognize the genocide—blocked by those who try to claim the Ezidis as their own.
We remember the victims.
We name the truth.
And we will not stop until justice is done and our people can return home safely. Ezidi Times will continue to speak. Loudly. Relentlessly. Truthfully.
Ve své nejnovější písni SISTER spojuje ezidská zpěvačka Diana Kalashova svůj hlas s mladší sestrou Sofií v dojemné poctě sesterské lásce, rodině a hlubokému poutu mezi sourozenci. Skladba, napsaná společně s rodinou a nazpívaná v jejich rodném jazyce ezdiki, zachycuje intimní vztah mezi sestrami a odráží Dianino trvalé propojení s jejími kořeny, vášní a uměleckou vizí.
V tomto exkluzivním rozhovoru pro Ezidi Times se Diana otevřeně podělila o proces vzniku písně, svůj tajný archiv nevydané hudby a emocionální poselství, které stojí za její dosud nejosobnější skladbou.
In her newest release SISTER, Ezidi singer Diana Kalashova joins voices with her younger sister Sofia in a heartfelt tribute to sisterhood, love, and family. Written together with their family and performed in their native Ezdiki language, the song captures the intimate bond between siblings and reflects Diana’s continued commitment to her roots, passion, and artistry. In this exclusive interview with Ezidi Times, Diana opens up about the creative process, her secret vault of unreleased music, and the emotional message behind her most personal song yet.
Eleven years after the Ezidi genocide, survivors are still waiting—for justice, for reparations, and for meaningful support. This event in Washington, DC brought Ezidi voices and policymakers together to ask: what will it take to finally move from commemoration to action?
In a significant step toward holding perpetrators accountable, an Iraqi court has sentenced a former ISIS member to death for his involvement in the kidnapping of Ezidis during the 2014 genocide in Sinjar. The individual was found guilty of participating in the armed attacks and mass abductions that targeted the Ezidi people in northwestern Iraq.