ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish leaders on Sunday extended holiday greetings to Yazidi communities in the Kurdistan Region and around the world celebrating the Midsummer holiday, in a public affirmation of support and acknowledgement of religious and cultural diversity.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani congratulated Baba Sheikh, the supreme spiritual leader of the Yazidi community, the Yazidi Spiritual Council, and Yazidis worldwide, wishing them “happiness, unity, and prosperity,” in a statement published by the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
“We renew our commitment to our Yazidi citizens and to all ethnic and religious communities that the Kurdistan Region shall endure as a homeland of coexistence for all its people, free from discrimination, and that we will continue to protect and uphold the rich diversity of its culture,” he added.
The Peak of Summer festival, also known as Çileya Havine, marks the end of a 40-day fasting period in the Yazidi faith and is traditionally celebrated with a feast at the holy temple of Lalish. According to Yazidi belief, those attending the celebration are granted atonement for their sins.
President Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) communicated his greetings to Yazidis.
“I hope that our Yazidi sisters and brothers celebrate all their festivals and occasions in peace, safety, and tranquility,” read a statement from Barzani Headquarters.
In his message, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani took the opportunity to pledge continued support for their rights and demands.
“On the occasion of the arrival of the Peak of Summer festival, I extend my warmest congratulations to all Yazidi sisters and brothers in Kurdistan and throughout the world. I hope you spend the days of this festival in goodness, joy, and peace,” Masrour Barzani said.
“I wish for a better future for our Yazidi sisters and brothers, and as always, I remain a supporter of their rights and demands,” he added.
The messages come as Yazidis continue to recover from the devastating impact of the Islamic State (ISIS) assault on Shingal (Sinjar) in 2014 in which they carried out massacres, forced marriages, sexual violence, and other atrocities, forcing tens of thousands of Yazidis to flee their homes.
Many Yazidis remain displaced in camps across the Kurdistan Region and Iraq amid continued efforts to support their return and rebuild areas destroyed during the ISIS campaign.
