Armenia declares August 3 as the Day of Commemoration of the Ezidi Genocide
16.04.2024 Yerevan
On April 16, 2024, an extraordinary session of the Armenian Parliament convened to discuss the proposal of designating August 3 as a Memorial Day for the victims of the Ezidi Genocide in Sinjar, which occurred in 2014. This legislative action, proposed by Rustam Bakoyan, a representative from the ruling “Civil Contract” Party and a Ezidi himself, aims to honor the victims of the Ezidi Genocide in Sinjar. The amendment to the ‘Eid and Commemoration Days of the Republic of Armenia’ Law received overwhelming support with 88 votes in favour.
MP Bakoyan underscored the imperative of recognising and remembering the atrocities committed against the Ezidi people, emphasising the importance of raising awareness about this humanitarian tragedy among the general public. He highlighted the growing international recognition of the Ezidi genocide, citing the acknowledgment by over 10 countries and various international bodies, including the UN Security Council.
This legislative move builds upon previous efforts by the Armenian Parliament, which in 2014 recognised the crimes perpetrated against the Ezidis by ISIS and other entities as genocide. The formal designation of August 3 as the Day of Commemoration of the Ezidi Genocide represents a significant step in ensuring that the memory of the victims is preserved and that their suffering is not forgotten.
The recording of the parliamentary session is accessible on YouTube:
The session in detail:
The session, initiated by deputies, saw deliberation on a draft law authored by Rustam Bakoyan from the Civil Contract Faction of the National Assembly.
Bakoyan’s proposal sought to amend Article 11 of the law on Holidays and Memorial Days of the Republic of Armenia to include the statement: “August 3 is marked as a Memorial Day of the Sinjar Ezidis genocide victims in 2014.” He emphasised the importance of recognising genocide as a crime against humanity and drew parallels between the plight of Ezidis and Armenians, both historically and in contemporary times.
The session also featured endorsements from the Secretary of the Civil Contract Faction, Artur Hovhannisyan, and input from Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paruyr Hovhannisyan, who highlighted Armenia’s commitment to preventing genocides and crimes against humanity.
Deputies spoke passionately about the need to condemn such atrocities and expressed solidarity with the Yazidi people. The Armenian Parliament had previously recognised the Ezidi Genocide in Iraq in 2014 and erected a monument in Yerevan in 2015 to commemorate the victims.
After thorough debate, the draft law was adopted in the first reading and subsequently in the second reading, marking a significant step in honouring the memory of Ezidi Genocide victims. The session concluded with a moment of silence to honor all victims of genocide, emphasising Armenia’s commitment to fighting for justice and prevention of such crimes worldwide.
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