Yazda: Offices in Kurdistan to reopen after talks with KRG
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Yezidi rights organization Yazda said in a statement on Wednesday that their facilities in the Kurdistan Region will be reopened as they have reached an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The organization’s board of directors also wrote in a statement on Wednesday that “the closure of Yazda’s facilities and projects was due to a misunderstanding and translation of some of Yazda’s activities as transgressions to KRG laws and regulations (which) relate to NGOs.”
The statement said talks between the NGO and the KRG resulted in a resolution.
“Following a series of positive meetings with concerned parties within the Kurdistan Regional Government a positive result was reached with regards to reopening Yazda facilities and projects in Kurdistan Region of Iraq after resolving issues between the two sides,” the statement read.
The US-headquartered organization, which was founded after the August 2014 massacre of Yezidis by ISIS, emphasized it was fully committed to abide by KRG laws and regulations.
“We reiterate that Yazda will follow all KRG laws and regulations regarding NGOs as it does in all countries where Yazda operates. Yazda will also continue to work in accordance with the principles on which Yazda was founded,” it said, adding that the group was not politically affiliated.
Additionally, Yazda expressed gratitude to local and international partners, and for the KRG’s understanding.
Rudaw could not immediately reach the NGO department or KRG officials for comment following the Yazda's statement on Wednesday.
“We have reached an agreement with the KRG regarding the opening of Yazda and we are sure it will be opened.” Murad Ismail, a Yazda official, told Rudaw English.
Yazda offices in Duhok were closed in early January by the KRG, which had previously told Rudaw that the closure came after the rights organization ignored an initial warning to abide by the rules of the department overseeing non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The organization’s board of directors also wrote in a statement on Wednesday that “the closure of Yazda’s facilities and projects was due to a misunderstanding and translation of some of Yazda’s activities as transgressions to KRG laws and regulations (which) relate to NGOs.”
The statement said talks between the NGO and the KRG resulted in a resolution.
“Following a series of positive meetings with concerned parties within the Kurdistan Regional Government a positive result was reached with regards to reopening Yazda facilities and projects in Kurdistan Region of Iraq after resolving issues between the two sides,” the statement read.
The US-headquartered organization, which was founded after the August 2014 massacre of Yezidis by ISIS, emphasized it was fully committed to abide by KRG laws and regulations.
“We reiterate that Yazda will follow all KRG laws and regulations regarding NGOs as it does in all countries where Yazda operates. Yazda will also continue to work in accordance with the principles on which Yazda was founded,” it said, adding that the group was not politically affiliated.
Additionally, Yazda expressed gratitude to local and international partners, and for the KRG’s understanding.
Rudaw could not immediately reach the NGO department or KRG officials for comment following the Yazda's statement on Wednesday.