Petition to Protect Yazidi Rights, Representation, and Their Homeland in Iraq

Petition to Protect Yazidi Rights, Representation, and Their Homeland in Iraq
To:
The Honorable Members of the United States Senate
From:
Yazidis and Yazidi American Community Members and Supporters
Submitted by:
Ezzat Haider
Yazidi American Community Organizer & Human Rights Advocate
PETITION REQUEST
We, the undersigned Yazidi and Yazidi Americans and supporters, respectfully call upon the United States Senate to take immediate leadership in addressing the ongoing crisis facing the Yazidi people of Iraq, an ancient indigenous ethno-religious minority that continues to suffer from the lasting consequences of genocide, displacement, and political marginalization.
We urge the Senate to mobilize a bipartisan, multi-state coalition and to introduce and support a federal legislative measure such as a “Yazidi Protection, Rights, and Representation Act” or a formal Senate resolution—dedicated to ensuring the long-term protection, rights, and representation of Yazidis in Iraq.
SUBJECT:
A Request to the U.S. Senate Leadership on Yazidi Protection, Rights, and Representation in Iraq
SUMMARY:
We, the Yazidis and Yazidi Americans, respectfully urge your leadership in advancing a coordinated United States Senate initiative to protect the Yazidi people of Iraq, an ancient indigenous religious minority, who continue to face persecution, displacement, land demographic changes, and political marginalization.
We call on you not only to support this cause, but to mobilize a coalition of U.S. Senators across multiple states to introduce and advance a federal act or resolution ensuring long-term protection, representation, and rights for Yazidis in Iraq.
BACKGROUND:
The Yazidis are an ancient, continuous ethno-religious community indigenous to Mesopotamia and beyond, particularly in the region of present-day northern Iraq/Kurdistan. The Yazidi traditions, rituals, and seasonal festivals are widely known and understood to preserve elements of some of the oldest spiritual systems in human history, with roots extending deep into the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia and deeper. This makes the Yazidis not only a community and a religious minority, but also a living link to early human civilization and belief systems.
At the heart of Yazidi spiritual life is Lalish, a sacred valley that has served for centuries as the center of pilgrimage, worship, and religious authority. The continued importance of Lalish reflects the Yazidis’ deep historical continuity and enduring connection to their ancestral lands. They have preserved their beliefs and practices across generations despite isolation and external pressures.
The Yazidis have endured centuries of persecution while preserving a distinct religious and cultural identity. Throughout our history, we have been repeatedly targeted by various political and religious powers who viewed our beliefs and social structure as different or threatening. These cycles of oppression aimed to forcibly convert, displace, or eliminate the Yazidi population, yet we consistently demonstrated resilience by maintaining our traditions, sacred practices, and strong communal bonds.
This long pattern of persecution culminated in the most devastating modern tragedy: the Yazidi Genocide. During this genocide, thousands of Yazidis were killed, and entire villages were destroyed. Women and children were subjected to systematic abduction, enslavement, and human trafficking, while many of our families were forcibly displaced from our ancestral homeland. Even after the genocide, the Yazidis and other Iraqi minorities are still struggling and facing more systematic and political challenges, marginalization, and changes to their land/demography.
Thousands of Yazidis remain displaced in camps across northern Iraq/Kurdistan, where they endure harsh living conditions, limited basic services, and lasting psychological trauma from past violence. Their return to Sinjar is hindered not only by insecurity and destroyed infrastructure but also by ongoing political disputes and competing interests between Iraqi and Kurdish authorities, which have delayed reconstruction and blocked safe, voluntary return. This prolonged displacement reflects a broader historical pattern: Yazidi areas were subjected to Arabization under Saddam Hussein’s regime, and today face concerns over Kurdish-led political, media, and administrative efforts that contribute to the kurdification of their regions.
The Yazidi people continue to face significant challenges in achieving meaningful political representation within both the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Although some Yazidis hold formal political positions, many are affiliated with larger Kurdish or Iraqi political parties, which often leads to their prioritization of party agendas over the specific needs of the Yazidi community. This limits the emergence of independent Yazidi leadership capable of directly advocating for issues such as justice for genocide survivors, reconstruction of Sinjar, protection of cultural and religious identity, and secure, voluntary return for displaced families. As a result, many Yazidis report that their concerns are filtered through broader political interests rather than addressed as distinct community rights. Combined with historical marginalization and ongoing disputes over Sinjar’s governance and security arrangements, this weak and indirect representation continues to restrict the Yazidis’ ability to influence key decisions affecting their future, leaving their long-term rights, autonomy, and political voice insufficiently protected within both governing systems.Ongoing disputes between the Iraqi Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government over Yazidi lands continue to unfold without meaningful inclusion of the Yazidi people in decisions about their own future. Initiatives such as the Sinjar Agreement are widely viewed within the community as efforts by competing authorities to reassert control over Yazidi areas rather than empower local self-determination. At the same time, there are deep concerns about forced demographic changes in traditionally Yazidi regions, based on past experiences of restricted rights and population shifts in places like Shekhan District. Together, these dynamics pose serious threats to the preservation of the Yazidis’ ancestral homeland, identity, and long-term stability.
Yazidis continue to face serious human rights challenges, including restrictions on freedom of expression and self-governance, reports of intimidation and political repression, and a lack of accountability for crimes committed against their community. At the same time, growing cultural and religious threats further endanger their identity, as hate speech and discrimination, particularly in the Kurdistan Region, undermine community safety and coexistence. Many Yazidis are also concerned about efforts by some authorities and media to label them as “Kurdish Yazidis,” which they view as a misrepresentation of their distinct heritage. Combined with fears of cultural and religious erasure through assimilation pressures, limited protection of cultural institutions, and interference in religious bodies such as the Yazidi Spiritual Council, these issues pose a significant risk to the survival of Yazidi land, identity, and traditions.
OUR CORE REQUESTS
We respectfully call on the United States Senate to take decisive leadership in addressing the Yazidi crisis, which goes far beyond a humanitarian concern and directly involves religious freedom, minority rights, post-genocide justice, and regional stability. Without strong and coordinated international action, the Yazidi people face the continued risk of permanent displacement, loss of their ancestral homeland, and the erosion of their identity as a distinct indigenous community. We therefore urge the Senate to build a bipartisan, multi-state coalition and introduce comprehensive legislation—such as a “Yazidi Protection, Rights, and Representation Act”—to ensure security, protect land and property rights, guarantee meaningful political representation, advance justice and accountability, support reconstruction and safe return, and preserve Yazidi cultural and religious heritage for future generations.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Yazidi people have endured centuries of persecution, culminating in genocide, and continue to face ongoing displacement, political marginalization, and cultural and religious threats in their ancestral homeland of Iraq. Despite their resilience and deep historical roots in Mesopotamia, they lack adequate protection, meaningful political representation, and secure conditions for safe return and rebuilding. These challenges are compounded by unresolved political disputes, insecurity, and efforts that risk weakening their distinct identity and presence on their own lands.
U.S. leadership is therefore essential to move beyond awareness toward concrete action that ensures justice, security, and long-term protection for the Yazidi community. With decisive engagement, the international community can help safeguard their rights, preserve their heritage, and support their ability to live freely and with dignity in their homeland.
Respectfully submitted,
Ezzat Haider
Yazidi American Community Organizer & Human Rights Advocate
Lincoln, Nebraska
402-590-0453
Ezzat_haider@yahoo.com