Prior 2014, we as Yazidi people living in Sinjar had a simple way of life.
We lived in a house
partially constructed of mud, and had a woman’s clothing store as main source of living. We did
not have much ideas about the outside world and modernity. The isolation of the community was
a result of so many genocidal campaigns, mistreatment, discrimination, and etc. Thus, the safest
way to preserve this simple style of life, identity and traditions was to live in such an isolated
spot as Sinjar Mount. In 2014, Islamic State militant group attacked Sinjar and an entire
community with all its aspects was subjected to eradication. We left behind everything and fled
to Kurdistan and settled in Sulaimani in the late 2014. After couples of months and we slowly
came out of the shock state, we looked for a refuge and found a farm to work in.
We could not integrate with the community there because many of them thought of us as devil
worshipers and would occasionally ask all of us at work, in the Bazar, in the taxi, at barber and at
school to convert to Islam. My youngest daughter started the school there. She was continuously
asked by her classmates and even some teachers to convert to Islam. One of her teachers secretly
tried to give her a Quraan and told her that your parents are devil worshipers and do not show
you the right path to God. We dropped her of the school moved to Dohuk-Sharya where Yazidis
live so that she can continue her education safely. Hundred of thousands of hate speech are post
on social media almost every year publicly stating that Yazidis are devil worshipers and deserve
to be eliminated. We cannot feel safe at work, home, school and everywhere since we are
surrounded by thousands of people who hold such believes against us. One of my sons was
working in an alcohol store and he left his job due to the threats of lately hate speech against all
Yazidi people.
We have no idea what to do. We cannot return to Sinjar because it is not safe since around ten
different militant groups are found in the region. Many conflicts occurred among them in the
recent years which threated many civilians’ lives, many displaced again. We cannot also feel safe
in Kurdistan because we live among people who threat our identity and presence. Our hope is to
receive support from a humanitarian country like Australian by granting us the right to live in
there in safety and peace.
