Ezidis Are Not Allowed To Visit Lalish – The Holiest Site for the Ezidis
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been restricting hundreds of Ezidi pilgrims, particularly from Shingal (Sinjar) and other areas of Nineveh, from visiting the Lalish Temple, which is the most sacred religious site for the Ezidi people. These restrictions, enforced at various security checkpoints, have been attributed to political and military reasons, and have been in place for several years. Ezidi leaders, activists, and even religious figures have reported being denied access to Lalish, even though it is a central place of worship for their faith. This ongoing obstruction is seen by many as a violation of the Ezidis’ religious freedoms and a breach of both the Iraqi Constitution and international human rights agreements.
One of the key figures to speak out against these restrictions is Fakhir Khalaf, an Ezidi religious leader based in Shingal. He has been unable to visit Lalish for religious duties for over three years, citing political reasons tied to the power dynamics within the Ezidi religious leadership. Khalaf has suggested that the religious figures in charge of the Lalish Temple, including the Emir and Baba Sheikh, are affiliated with political parties, and this has contributed to the ongoing ban on pilgrims from Shingal. His frustration is shared by many among the Ezidis, who feel that these religious leaders should be advocating for the rights of the people, not facilitating restrictions.
Similarly, civil society activist Saeed Shamo, who has been a vocal critic of the treatment of Ezidis since their displacement by the Islamic State (ISIL) in 2014, has not been allowed to visit Lalish for five years. He attributes his exclusion to his past activism, which made him a target of scrutiny by KRG security forces. Shamo was displaced in 2014 when ISIL captured Shingal, enslaving thousands of Ezidis, but was unable to return to the Kurdistan Region after his return to Shingal in 2018 due to the political climate and the security restrictions in place. He is among many Ezidis who feel their right to visit sacred religious sites is being unjustly impeded by political considerations.
The significance of Lalish Holy Temple for the Ezidis
The Lalish Temple, which is located in Sheikhan district, 60 km northeast of Mosul, has been a center for Ezidi religious practices for centuries. It is where major religious ceremonies take place, such as New Year’s celebrations Charshama Sare Sale and Jama Eid pilgrimages, which attract tens of thousands of Ezidis. These events are central to Ezidi faith, with pilgrimages being a key aspect of their religious observances, alongside practices such as prayer and fasting. The KRG has been quick to dismiss claims that pilgrims are being blocked, with Luqman Mahmoud, spokesman for the Lalish Temple, stating that they have not received any official complaints of restrictions. However, many pilgrims report being stopped at security checkpoints on their way to the temple, which undermines the claim of free access.
This issue has escalated in recent years, especially since the military tensions that followed the October 16, 2017, events, when Iraqi forces took control of disputed areas like Shingal after the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum. Since then, Shingal has been caught in a political and military struggle, with multiple armed groups operating in the area, including the Iraqi Army and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which are primarily pro-Shiite paramilitary groups. The KRG’s security forces, under the command of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), have increasingly used these military affiliations as a reason to block Ezidis from accessing Lalish.
Mirza Khalaf, the commander of the KRG’s Peshmerga forces in Shingal, confirmed the blocking of pilgrims, explaining that the KRG security forces prevent individuals affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) or the Hashd al-Shaabi from entering the Kurdistan Region, including visits to Lalish. The KRG has claimed that these security measures are necessary to protect national security, but the lack of transparency regarding the procedures and legal justifications has led many among the Ezidis to question the fairness of these restrictions.
Despite the claims of the KRG and its security forces, many Ezidis maintain that the restrictions are politically motivated and are part of a broader effort to control the Ezidi people by exploiting religious and political divisions. Khairi Ali, the head of the Petrichor Human Rights Organization in Shingal, emphasized that these obstacles have been raised to the attention of international organizations and Iraqi authorities. He argued that no Ezidi should be prevented from visiting their sacred sites, especially considering that those who wish to visit Lalish are not committing any crime but are merely seeking to fulfill their religious duties.
Continued Harassment and Discrimination Even After the 2014 Genocide
This situation reflects a larger issue facing the Ezidi people in Iraq. After the genocide committed by ISIL in 2014, which saw thousands of Ezidis killed, enslaved, and displaced, the Ezidi people have been grappling with the long-term effects of displacement and marginalization. The majority of Ezidis in Iraq today still live in displacement camps or in regions under uncertain governance, such as Shingal and Sheikhan. While the KRG has promised to protect the rights of minorities, including the Ezidis, many among the Ezidis feel that the KRG’s actions have not reflected these promises. The government’s failure to protect religious freedom and guarantee access to sacred sites like Lalish only deepens the sense of insecurity and distrust felt by many Ezidis.
The situation is further complicated by internal divisions within the Ezidi leadership. There have been disputes over the appointment of the Emir of Shingal and the Baba Sheikh, the two highest religious figures within the Ezidi people. This infighting has created an additional layer of political tension that has made it harder for the Ezidi people to present a unified front when advocating for their rights. Some Ezidis do not recognize the authority of the current religious leadership in Lalish, particularly following the appointment of Hazim Tahsin Beg as the new Emir, which has been met with resistance from factions within the people.
In addition to Lalish, the Ezidi people have numerous other religious shrines and sites in Nineveh province, many of which were destroyed or severely damaged by ISIL. The ongoing obstacles to religious worship not only undermine the spiritual lives of Ezidis but also prevent the people from rebuilding and preserving their religious and cultural heritage.
Iraqi Government is Once Again Failing its Obligation to Protect All Minorities in Iraq
The case of the Lalish Temple and the blocking of Ezidi pilgrims highlights the broader struggles faced by the Ezidi people in Iraq. Despite legal protections for religious freedom under both Iraqi law and international human rights conventions, the rights if the Ezidis are being systematically violated. The lack of transparency, the political manipulation of religious leaders, and the ongoing security concerns in the region continue to undermine the Ezidi people’s ability to freely practice their religion and access their holy sites. The international community, human rights organizations, and Iraqi authorities must address these issues to ensure that the Ezidis are able to exercise their fundamental rights to worship and religious freedom without political interference or repression.
Ezidis speak Ezdiki and they are followers of the Ezidi religion called Sharfadin. Ezidis are an ethnic and religious group (ethnoreligious group) and their religion is more than 6700 years old.
There are approximately 550,000 Ezidis in Iraq, with over 100,000 having migrated abroad. Those who remain in displacement or in regions like Sheikhan and Shingal face continuing challenges in accessing their sacred sites.
This article was originally published on KirkukNow. “KRG Bans Hundreds of Ezidi Pilgrims from Visiting Lalish Temple.” KirkukNow, 09-11-2024.
