For Immediate Release
Press Release
Sinjar, Iraq, 18 October 2023 – Today, thousands of people witnessed the inauguration of the memorial dedicated to the genocide committed against the Yazidi community in the village of Solagh, in Sinjar, Iraq. A common space created to remember and grieve, this memorial immortalizes the lives lost to religious persecution by ISIS in 2014.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Ahmed Al Badrani representing the Prime Minister of the Government of Iraq and the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities; Dr. Dindar Zibari representing the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Mr. Najm Al Jabouri, Governor of Ninewa; and Mr. Claudio Cardone, representing the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad.
Representatives of the diplomatic missions and international organizations, community leaders, survivors, and family members of the Yazidi community were all also in attendance.
Built by Nadia’s Initiative and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with support from the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), at the request of genocide survivors, the memorial pays homage to the resilience and courage of the Yazidi community, who endured systematic violence and persecution by ISIS.
Nadia Murad, former resident of Sinjar and member of the Yazidi community, donated her Nobel Peace Prize to purchase the land for the memorial, which sits close to the Grave of Mothers where her own mother and over 90 Yazidi women were killed and buried in a mass grave in August 2014.
Speaking at the ceremony today, Nadia Murad eagerly voiced:
"This memorial is a monument to the Yazidis who died and for those who survived. It will stand in Sinjar long after the names and faces of the evil ISIS terrorists have been forgotten. I hope it will provide closure and healing for those families who were never reunited with the bodies of their loved ones. It should also serve as a reminder of why it is that our community suffered, and the vast amount of work that still needs to be done."
“Remembrance is the foundation of peace,” said Giorgi Gigauri, Chief of Mission for IOM Iraq. “As we inaugurate this memorial site, we reiterate our support to the community to build a brighter future. Whether it is to safely return to their ancestral lands or to build a new life in a new location, IOM stands in solidarity with the Yazidi community and will continue to support national authorities to realize this vision.”
Designed using 3D imagery as a gift by Yazidi architect Dersim Khairy Namo, in close cooperation with local artists, engineers and community leaders, the 10,000 square-meter space hosts nearly 3,000 unmarked marble gravestones in remembrance of lives lost in August 2014.
As part of efforts to advance justice and durable solutions for the Yazidi and other minority communities in Iraq, IOM provides protection, mental health and psychosocial support, housing rehabilitation, legal aid, and reparation services with support from USAID.
IOM worked closely with the Iraqi authorities to develop the Yazidi Survivors Law and now supports the Directorate for Survivors Affairs to provide reparations to Yazidi, Turkmen, Christian, and Shabak survivors. Over 1,141 applications for reparations have already been processed, and nearly 900 verified survivors have begun receiving payments.
USAID Mission Director Elise Jensen emphasized that "With art and remembrance, we transform tragedy into timeless tributes. The Solagh Memorial stands as a symbol of our commitment to honor the lives lost in the Yezidi Genocide, etching their memory into our collective consciousness. These sculptures symbolize resilience, healing, and the enduring spirit of humanity. Proudly partnering with @NadiasInitiative and @IOMIraq, USAID is uplifting communities and offering a powerful symbol of hope for generations to come."
For more info, please contact:
Lucy Woolliscroft
Director of Communications, Nadia’s Initiative
press@nadiasinitiative.org
Deepika Nath
Head of Public Information, IOM Iraq
iraqpublicinfo@iom.int
ABOUT USAID
The United States, through USAID, has been a steadfast partner of Iraq, helping enhance the social and economic stability of all its citizens. USAID works with the Iraqi government, international institutions, and a network of local partners to rebuild infrastructure and empower minorities, women, youth, and other vulnerable groups in Iraq.
ABOUT IOM
With staff and major offices in Baghdad, Erbil, Basra, and Mosul, IOM Iraq works in cooperation with the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, civil society organizations, and international partners to provide support across the country’s 18 governorates, operating a multi-sectoral response covering camp management and camp coordination, shelter and infrastructure rehabilitation, health care, mental health and psychosocial support services, livelihood assistance, protection, support for national migration policy development and more.
ABOUT NADIA’S INITIATIVE
Nadia’s Initiative is survivor-centric and works with the local community as well as a variety of implementing partners on the ground in Sinjar to design and support projects that promote the restoration of education, health care, livelihoods, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), culture and women’s empowerment in the region.
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