resilience

The Shared Struggles of Ancient Peoples

Ezidis can learn the vital importance of preserving their sacred faith of Sharfadin. Justice and recognition require courage and unity—not just from within the Ezidi people but also through building solidarity with other ancient peoples facing similar struggles. Though the wounds run deep, hope remains in the power of cultural survival and the determination to secure a future where the Ezidis’ dignity, heritage, and rights are fully respected and protected.

By Ezidi Times, ago

Ezidi Life Ten Years After the Genocide: A Look at Youth and Male Survivors

Many Ezidis remain unable to return to their homeland in Sinjar due to ongoing insecurity, political tensions, and the destruction left behind. Thousands continue to live in camps with limited access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Even those who have managed to return face immense hardships, with homes in ruins, infrastructure in poor condition, and economic instability making survival difficult. Justice remains elusive, as many perpetrators of the genocide are still free, and international attention has largely faded, leaving survivors feeling abandoned.

By Ezidi Times, ago

The Triumph of Sinjar’s Daughters Over Evil

Mayada was only 11 when ISIS stormed her village, tearing her from her family and selling her into slavery. For three years, she endured relentless abuse, passed from one captor to another like a commodity. Yet, despite the horror, she never lost hope. After five failed escape attempts, she finally broke free, navigating landmine-ridden terrain to reach safety. Now, years later, she is not just a survivor—she is a voice for justice, determined to fight for those still in captivity.

By Ezidi Times, ago

La Force Inébranlable d’une Artiste Ezidi

En 2007, Hales a fui en Allemagne avec sa mère et sa sœur—un pays qu’elle est finalement venue non seulement apprécier mais, pourrait-on dire, aimer, pour ses libertés et ses valeurs. En tant qu’Ezidi, un groupe ethno-religieux ayant subi des siècles de persécution, le concept de liberté a une grande importance pour Hales. Elle a profondément compris la valeur de la liberté à travers les atrocités commises par les groupes islamistes. Le plus récent des plus de 70 génocides Ezidi a eu lieu le 3 août 2014, avec des milliers de femmes encore captives des mains de l’État islamique (ISIS). “Nous avons vécu en captivité assez longtemps; il est maintenant temps de défendre notre liberté et nos droits”, déclare Hales.

By Ezidi Times, ago

The Unbreakable Spirit of a True Artist

In 2007, Hales fled to Germany with her mother and sister—a country she eventually came to not only appreciate but, one might say, love, for both its freedoms and its values. As a Ezidi, an ethnoreligious group that has faced centuries of persecution, the concept of freedom holds great significance for Hales. She came to deeply understand the value of freedom through the atrocities committed by Islamist groups. The most recent of over 70 Ezidi genocides occurred on August 3, 2014, with thousands of women still held captive by ISIS. “We have lived in captivity long enough; now it is time to stand up for our freedom and our rights,” says Hales.

By Ezidi Times, ago