Da’esh perpetrated the Yazidi Genocide, and today, the world is perpetuating it

 

It has been seven years since Da’esh infiltrated Shingal, the beloved homeland of the Yazidi people, launching an extermination campaign against the community. It has been seven years since 1,298 men were killed on August 3, 2014, marking day one of genocide.

On those first days of genocide, over 355,000 members of the Yazidi ethno-religious community were mockingly chased up the Shingal mountains, in a flight for their lives and existence. Held hostage in their own mountains, this symbol that once stood for spiritual coexistence and refuge with nature became a dead-end of no defense. Surrounded by Da’esh, the Yazidi people were pillaged and massacred, without even the option of surrender.

Shingal, known as Sinjar to the international community, is a land of deep collective belonging that still remains no place to rebuild a home, livelihood, and future. To-date, 25% of its local minority populations have left the IDP camps, attempting to move back to their villages and towns. Yet, Shingal remains largely uninhabitable and unsustainable, with no services, capacity, and security for families to come back home. Mass graves that have still not been exhumed continue to overwhelm villages, keeping local inhabitants fearfully away. Half a dozen armed groups and militias have carved out their terrain and spheres of influence. Da’esh remains, despite international wishful thinking that the so-called Caliphate has been effectively defeated.

Just last week, 95 Yazidi families announced their return to a life of internal displaced encampment. How could we have expected them to stay with no economy, no safety, and no opportunity? Re-displacement will become the next tragedy of minorities. With no dignified, community-led, and properly studied socio-economic re-development, re-construction, and re-location plans, Shingal cannot become home again.

This was all part of the community extermination plans of Da’esh. Today, we can see the effectiveness of their genocide strategy. It was never just about massacring, pillaging, and enslaving. It was about disabling a community from ever being able to become community again.

While Da’esh perpetrated genocide, today, it is us, the national and international community of governments, aid agencies, diplomats, and peacebuilders who are perpetuating this crime against humanity. By failing to act with agility, strategic thinking, and community self-determination, we are letting Da’esh succeed in their mission. We have never had a more urgent and responsible role to play, as friends of the cause, to guarantee a meaningful future for our Yazidi friends and all minorities. And we cannot leave them alone to figure it out for themselves.

The last seven years have taught us that we failed to lead. So let us pass on the baton to those who are most capable; to those who refuse to leave Shingal, whatever the cost on identity, dignity, and community. The Yazidi people and all communities of this land must be given full ownership of their future. They are the ones who must sit at the heads of the decision-making tables. And we, we must be their students, and serve them with our political will, financial means, expertise, and empathy.

Shingal is demanding that we not abandon humanity. And we, we must listen and do our part.