Mir Hazim Tahsin Bag, spiritual chief of the Yazidi community, spoke to Rudaw’s Dildar Harki about Yazidis in Iraq and in the diaspora. Mir Bag said the situation for Iraq's Yazidis is not good with nearly 300,000 Yazidis still living in camps.
“It has been 10 years," Bag said. "Our people are under constant pressure, and we ask the Iraqi and Kurdistan governments to quickly resolve the Yazidi issue.”
The following is the transcript for Mir Hazim Tahsin Beg’s interview with Rudaw.
Rudaw: How is the current situation of the Yazidis?
Mir Hazim Tahsin Beg: Generally, the situation of the Yazidis today is not good. Before the arrival of ISIS, the situation was very good. We were living in Kurdistan and Iraq without any problems. After the arrival of ISIS, many problems arose for us. Many of our people were captured by ISIS, and many fled Iraq, with nearly 300,000 Yazidis currently in camps in Kurdistan, especially in the Dohuk camp.
Is the situation better for the Yazidis under the administration of Kurdistan or those under the Iraqi government?
Those under the Iraqi government are no longer there. All of them are in Kurdistan; only Shingal remains.
I meant Shingal specifically.
Only 20% of the people are in Shingal, while 80% are in Dohuk.
How is the situation of the Yazidis in Europe?
Yazidis didn’t just recently move to Europe; they've been there since the 60s. It’s not just Iraqi Yazidis there; Yazidis from Turkey, Syria, and Georgia are also in the diaspora. Whoever leaves their land loses their language, history, and identity. I believe those who went to Europe are very regretful. Although they have a comfortable life, nice homes, and cars, they are not at peace internally.
Some Yazidi refugees are now returning to Kurdistan. What is your stance on this?
Ten days ago, I was in Germany, and I visited the ministries of foreign affairs and interior, as well as the Hamburg parliament. We discussed this issue. We asked us why Yazidis are being sent back. They [German officials] said if Yazidis do not cause any problems, we will not send them back. They mentioned that it’s not just Yazidis, but about 27,000 Iraqis, who, if they cause problems, we have no choice but to send them back.
Can you give an example of the problems?
Some problems arise due to their own [German] laws. But they said if there are no problems, we will not send them back.
Many Yazidis are missing in the diaspora. What needs to be done to bring them back?
Who is missing?
For example, those Yazidis who are still unaccounted for and have not been registered. Do you have any estimate of how many Yazidis are living in Europe?
According to my information, since I visit every country and place, there are 800,000 Yazidis in Iraq today. As I mentioned, those under the Kurdistan government, 20% are in Shingal and 80% are in Dohuk.
How many Yazidis are there in Europe?
The number of Yazidis in Europe is 300,000.
Alright, those who are still missing and have no clear fate after the genocide, what needs to be done to determine their fate and bring them back?
On the first day, Mr. Nechirvan created an office, and after the Yazidis were captured by ISIS, according to my knowledge, 6,417 people were captured by ISIS. Mr. Nechirvan’s office has managed to bring many of them back. Today, I believe 2,600 people remain. We continue to push the Iraqi, Kurdistan, and international governments to bring our people back. But it has been 10 years, and it is truly a difficult situation.
How is the situation for those that Mr. Nechirvan Barzani helped bring back?
It is good, but they still need some things.
Some are in the West of Kurdistan (Rojava); they were freed and returned. Are you aware of their situation?
Yes, we have all the information about them—where they are, when they were freed, and how they were freed. There was a lot of humanitarian and moral support towards the Yazidis after they were captured by ISIS; they did not face discrimination. Whoever had lost something was given support. As you can see, it is a humanitarian issue above all else.
Some Arabs from the Shingal area and its surroundings, known or unknown to the people, were involved with ISIS and have returned. For example, it is said that a driver from one of the bulldozers ran over Yazidis with cruelty and killed them. It’s known who they are. Have you called for those who collaborated with ISIS to be brought to justice?
Honestly, I can tell you; on the day ISIS arrived and took the Yazidis, you could see, for example, there were 100 ISIS members, and 10 to 20 of them were foreign people, meaning about 80% of the locals collaborated. But we can’t say that all tribes collaborated with ISIS. Many of these tribes did not participate. We have always requested from the Iraqi, Kurdistan, and international governments that those who collaborated with ISIS, and who oppressed the Yazidis, be prosecuted and brought to justice.
Alright, the compensation law for victims has been partially implemented; are the measures satisfactory to you?
Honestly, ISIS caused great emotional harm to the Yazidis, as well as material damage. Now, each family that returns is given four million dinars, but that amount is not enough; we wanted it to be 10 to 15 million. Moreover, the houses need to be repaired. They should be able to resume their lives, and their electricity should be restored, so they can return.
For the stabilization of Shingal, should the existing agreement between Erbil and Baghdad be implemented, or is there a need for a new agreement?
I have asked both the Iraqi and Kurdistan governments; you are our governments; we want to sit and discuss this. But the major complaint lies with the Iraqi government because it is the big brother. It is the big government and the big brother. They should tell the Kurdistan government to sit down and resolve this. Until an understanding is reached with the people of Shingal, the reality is that our people are not at peace and cannot find comfort. It has been ten years. Our people are under constant pressure, and we ask the Iraqi and Kurdistan governments to quickly resolve the Yazidi issue.
How do you see Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region’s stance on the Yazidi genocide?
This is not the first time we have felt Mr. Nechirvan’s support. Since the fall of Saddam, we have seen Mr. Nechirvan’s support for us. He has helped us. Similarly, President Masoud Barzani has also supported us. If it weren’t for Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, most of those captured by ISIS would not have been returned. We are grateful for their stance.
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