‘Let ISIS see we do not die’: Yezidis repair their temples

BASHIQA, Kurdistan Region – Members of Sheikh Hassan temple in Bashiqa have begun work to repair the Yezidi place of worship. 

Five families, “servants” of the holy site, have raised funds to repair the temple in Bashiqa, northeast of Mosul, that was destroyed by ISIS when the extremist group carried out genocide against the Yezidi people. 

“Let ISIS see with their eyes that we repaired it in even a more beautiful way,” said one volunteer. “Our domes are always beautiful, but it has become more attractive than before. Let them know we do not die.”

ISIS destroyed twenty temples in Bashiqa and Bahzan. The cost to repair all twenty temples is around 450 to 500 million Iraqi Dinar (380 - 420 thousand USD).