Baghdad: Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein affirmed on Monday that the government has given due attention to the Yazidi issue, noting that it has developed a plan for the return of displaced persons.
According to Iraqi News Agency, Hussein delivered a speech on behalf of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at a ceremony commemorating the genocide of the Yazidis. The event was attended by notable figures including Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, and the Emir of the Yazidis. Hussein stated, "We are gathered today to remember painful memories that Iraq and Kurdistan have experienced, the latest of which was the genocide of the Yazidis 12 years ago." He recalled Iraq's history of displacements, highlighting the 1980 displacement of the Faili Kurds and the 1983 genocide against the Barzanis, alongside other tragedies such as the Halabja and Anfal crimes, culminating in the ISIS crimes against the Yazidis.
Hussein emphasized that despite the heinous nature of these crimes, Iraq's diverse communities, with the courage of its people, have thwarted terrorist ambitions, liberated areas, and saved lives. He credited the defeat of terrorism to the sacrifices of Iraqi forces, including the Peshmerga, acknowledging the destructive attempts by ISIS to eradicate the Yazidi community.
He explained that the Iraqi government has developed a comprehensive plan aimed at the return and rehabilitation of displaced persons, focusing on recovery and reintegration programs. These efforts include providing protection for victims, supporting reconstruction in Sinjar and other affected areas, compensating those impacted, and promoting reconciliation in collaboration with the United Nations. Hussein noted that the government is committed to supporting survivors of ISIS crimes and has taken practical steps to compensate them, including implementing legal provisions.
Hussein concluded by stressing the government's commitment to protecting the rights of all Iraqi communities, consolidating citizenship values, and confronting hate speech. He emphasized the importance of promoting a culture of coexistence and tolerance as a shared national responsibility, ensuring such crimes are not repeated in the future.