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.

They Turned Us Into the Enemy of Our Own Children

Since the 2014 genocidal ISIS attack, the Ezidi people still face a devastating and existential crisis. Most of the focus has been directed towards the atrocities committed against the women, and unfortunately, the fate of the abducted Ezidi boys is rarely discussed. It is unclear why this horrendous part of the genocide campaign receives so little attention. Perhaps no one knows they are still alive. But one fact remains: these Ezidi boys have come to hate us — the Ezidis — because ISIS has indoctrinated them to do so.

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.

Iraq’s Government Struggles to Win the Trust of the Ezidi People in Sinjar

The Ezidi people, who suffered horrific violence at the hands of ISIS in 2014, feel ignored by the government. Many Ezidis do not trust Iraq’s army or the Kurdish forces, which failed to protect them during the ISIS attacks. A recent decision to return Sunni Arab displaced persons (IDPs) to Sinjar led to protests, as many Ezidis saw it as a reminder of their trauma and the government’s lack of understanding.