Barzani: Yezidis Must Be Compensated for the Suffering and Losses They Endured

ARK News.. Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, issued a message marking the 12th anniversary of the Yezidi genocide in Sinjar, saying that "the Yazidis were subjected to genocide because of their Kurdish identity, their heritage, and their religious beliefs."

Barzani reaffirmed that "our Yezidi sisters and brothers must return to the homeland of their ancestors with dignity and honor, and they must be compensated for the suffering and losses they have endured."

The full text of the message follows:

In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful The crime committed by ISIS terrorists against our Yezidi sisters and brothers 12 years ago will remain an everlasting wound in the memory of the people of Kurdistan.

The Yezidis were subjected to genocide because of their Kurdish identity, their heritage, and their religious beliefs. They became the target of hatred, malice, and inhumane brutality at the hands of ISIS terrorists. The atrocities committed by ISIS in the Sinjar region were a continuation of the long series of tragedies, massacres, and crimes committed against the people of Kurdistan throughout history.

ARK News.. On the 12th anniversary of this tragedy, we honor the souls of the martyrs and victims. We also pay tribute to the courage and heroism of the Peshmerga fighters who stood their ground on Mount Sinjar and prevented the terrorists from reaching it.

We salute all the Peshmerga who sacrificed their blood to break the siege of Mount Sinjar, liberate the city, and shatter the myth of ISIS. We also extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the honorable people of Kurdistan who stood united in solidarity with their Yezidi sisters and brothers. We likewise express our deep appreciation to the International Coalition forces for the prominent role they played in supporting the Peshmerga and defeating the terrorists.

On this anniversary, I reaffirm my full support for the aspirations and legitimate demands of our Yezidi sisters and brothers. I call on them to strengthen their unity and solidarity to secure a brighter future and to remain hopeful for a better tomorrow. There is no doubt that the current abnormal and imposed situation in Sinjar will not continue indefinitely.

Our Yezidi sisters and brothers must return to the homeland of their fathers and grandfathers with dignity and honor, and they must be compensated for the suffering and losses they have endured.

A thousand salutations to the souls of the noble martyrs of Sinjar and to all the martyrs on Kurdistan's path to freedom.

Masoud Barzani

Aug. 3, 2026

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