Iraqi First Lady: Yazidis' Wounds Have Not Healed Yet

PUKMEDIA

Iraqi First Lady Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed.

Iraq's First Lady addressed the first scientific forum on the Yazidi genocide, which was held in Sulaymaniyah under her supervision. She stated that the recurrence of genocide against the Yezidis must be avoided because the wounds of the previous genocide have not yet healed.

The forum titled 'Historical Lessons and Hope for the Future' took place on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at the new campus of Sulaymaniyah University. A significant number of government and party officials, educators, and students attended the event.

"Academic, political, and historical institutions must organise meetings, conferences, debates, and in-depth discussions on this genocide," Iraqi First Lady Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed said during her speech at the event.

"They should use the recommendations generated from these discussions as a shield to prevent the recurrence of genocide against the Yezidis, as the wounds from the previous genocide have not yet healed," she added.

"I am ashamed to see that there is an attempt to conflate a significant genocide like the Yezidi genocide with political disputes, as there are still internally displaced persons from Sinjar who have not been able to go back to their homeland, and some remain missing," she expressed.

Dr. Kosar Mohammed, the head of Sulaymaniyah University, also delivered a speech in which he stated: "Genocide is a grave and violent problem that affects some nations. The Kurdish nation, like others, has unfortunately experienced this crime multiple times. The most recent instance was the genocide of the Yezidis, which occurred on August 3, 2014."

"Of the 550,000 Yezidis, more than 360,000 have been displaced due to the crimes committed against them. Many of them have been martyred and disappeared," he said.

"They are still suffering distress because of their missing daughters, and we demand serious action to return them," he added.



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