Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, issued a statement on Thursday, August 3, marking the ninth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide in Iraq by ISIS, emphasizing the 'unwavering' support of the United States for this religious and ethnic minority. He expressed solidarity with the survivors of the Yazidi genocide, stating that ISIS terrorists abducted and killed thousands of Yazidis, conscripted Yazidi boys as child soldiers, and turned Yazidi women and girls into sex slaves. The U.S. diplomat added that Washington continues to strive for justice and accountability for the victims and survivors and to uphold the human rights of all Yazidis, including freedom of religion and belief. According to Matthew Miller, Iraq has the opportunity to embark on a new path that leads to greater peace, stability, and prosperity for all its people by pursuing justice and accountability, addressing the perpetrators of violence, and preventing genocide and other atrocities in the future. He honored the memory of the victims and acknowledged the suffering of the survivors, praising the strength, resilience, and determination of the Yazidis. Earlier, the British government on Tuesday, August 1, classified the crimes of ISIS against the Yazidi people as genocide. Yazidis are a Kurdish-speaking religious minority who are deemed 'infidels' by ISIS. In August 2014, ISIS attacked Sinjar, home to the largest Yazidi community in the world. In this attack, at least five thousand Yazidis, mostly boys and men, were massacred. Thousands of children, girls, and women were abducted by ISIS members. There is still no information on the fate of more than two thousand Yazidi women abducted by ISIS. A German woman who was a member of ISIS was sentenced to prison for keeping a female slave in Iraq. An Iraqi in Germany was sentenced to life imprisonment for 'genocide against the Yazidis.' A mass grave was discovered in an area controlled by ISIS. Human rights defenders have called for a greater role for the U.S. in stopping the genocide of the Yazidis.
Ninth Anniversary of Yazidi Genocide; U.S. Emphasizes Unwavering Support for Yazidis
The U.S. reaffirmed its support for the Yazidi community on the ninth anniversary of their genocide by ISIS, highlighting the ongoing need for justice and accountability for the victims. The British government has also recognized the atrocities as genocide. This situation underscores the ongoing plight of the Yazidis and the international community's responsibility to address these human rights violations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The U.S. marked the ninth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide by ISIS, reaffirming its support for the Yazidi community and emphasizing the need for justice and accountability. The British government also recognized the atrocities as genocide.
- ISIS attacked the Yazidi community in Sinjar in August 2014, killing and abducting thousands.
- The U.S. and UK have both recognized the actions against Yazidis as genocide.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Yazidi genocide by ISIS in 2014 was a significant humanitarian crisis, drawing international condemnation and calls for justice.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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