Top Yazidi official in the Kurdistan Region passed away

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An advisor to the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister for Yazidi affairs passed away on Tuesday nearly three weeks after contracting coronavirus. 

Sheikh Shamo Sheikh Naamo, head of Lalish Cultural Center, died in Ankara 20 days after testing positive to COVID-19, Suud Misto, head of the directorate for Yazidi affairs at KRG’s ministry of endowment, told Rudaw. 

He was also an advisor to the PM Masrour Barzani for Yazidi affairs. 

Barzani said in a statement that his advisor had "provided significant service to the Kurdistan people's question." 

Sheikh Khayri, his brother, had previously told Rudaw that he had received his third dose of coronavirus vaccine nearly one month before contracting the virus. 

Marwan, the deceased Yazidi official’s son, told a Yazidi news outlet this week that he was moved to Ankara on January 10 after his health deteriorated.

US consulate in Erbil offered condolences for the death of the Yazidi figure, saying he " played an important role in advocating for the #Yezidi people in #Iraq, including in the #Iraqi_Kurdistan_Region. 

Updated at 9:05