Germany Urges Iraq: Rebuild Shingal, Bring the Ezidis Home

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Germany has called on Iraq to intensify efforts to rebuild Shingal, the devastated homeland of the Ezidi people, more than a decade after the genocide carried out by ISIS. Despite several national and international initiatives, large parts of the region remain in ruins, and thousands of Ezidis are still displaced across northern Iraq.

According to Germany’s Foreign Ministry, reconstruction in Shingal has not progressed at the pace expected by survivors and their families. The ministry emphasized that the Iraqi government bears a key responsibility to restore the Ezidi homeland and ensure that displaced people can return safely.

Germany continues to support reconstruction through various projects, with a strong focus on assisting Ezidi survivors of ISIS crimes. Much of this work remains concentrated in Shingal, where infrastructure, housing, and essential services are still lacking.

The Ezidi people, followers of the ancient religion Sharfadin, endured systematic violence, mass killings, and sexual slavery when ISIS attacked Shingal in 2014. Tens of thousands fled to displacement camps, where many remain due to political tensions and insecurity in the area.

Reconstruction has been hindered by ongoing disputes between Baghdad and Erbil, as well as the presence of competing armed groups. Although an agreement was reached in 2020 to normalize governance and security in Shingal, its implementation has largely stalled.

German officials have also acknowledged Iraq’s legislative steps in recent years, such as the Ezidi Survivors Law of 2021, which provides compensation to victims, and a subsequent law enabling Ezidis to officially register property in their names. However, these measures alone have not yet translated into large-scale reconstruction or durable solutions for displaced families.

Eleven years after the genocide, Shingal’s recovery remains one of Iraq’s greatest post-war challenges — and for the Ezidi people, the hope of return still depends on political will, security, and sustained international commitment.

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