Belgium has issued its first conviction for the 2014 genocide against Ezidis, with the Brussels Assize Court finding Islamic State fighter Sammy Djedou guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity. The ruling marks Belgium’s entry among European countries prosecuting those responsible for the atrocities committed against Ezidis.
Ezdiki will once again be part of Armenia’s 2025 voluntary teacher certification exams. Scheduled for November 15, this inclusion reflects ongoing efforts to preserve the Ezidi language and ensure its presence in the country’s educational system.
Belgian ISIS member Sammy Djedou is being tried in absentia in Brussels for genocide and crimes against humanity against Ezidi women. Prosecutors accuse him of enslaving, torturing, and raping three Ezidi women during ISIS’s 2014 attack on Shengal (Sinjar) in Iraq — crimes described as part of the group’s campaign to annihilate the Ezidis.
Belgium is set to hold its first-ever trial for genocide against the Ezidi people, as IS fighter Sammy Djedou faces charges in absentia for murder, rape, and sexual enslavement. For the survivors who will testify, the courtroom is more than a legal stage — it is a rare space to confront the violence that shattered their lives and to assert that the world cannot forget the genocide against the Ezidis.
Ezidis in Cologne recently met with the city’s new mayor to share their culture and discuss growing concerns about deportations. The meeting emphasized dialogue, understanding, and the need for stronger protection and inclusion in Germany.
At Chapman University, Nobel laureate and human rights advocate Nadia Murad shared her powerful journey from surviving the genocide against the Ezidi people to leading global efforts for justice, remembrance, and survivor recovery. Her words reminded students that resilience begins with compassion — both for others and for oneself.
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.
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...
