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UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...
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AP reported in October 2006 that “(H)undreds of Yazidi families have fled Mosul in the<br />
past two years leaving little more than a half dozen now.” 387<br />
Additionally, Yazidi traditions such as forced marriage, “honour killings” or the prohibition<br />
to marry outside one’s caste and religion may result in serious human rights violations at<br />
the hands of the family or community. 388 According to the German organization<br />
Yezidisches Forum, Yazidi women who have been kidnapped or sexually assaulted by<br />
Muslims may face severe sanctions by the Yazidi community, including exclusion from the<br />
Yazidi religion and community and possibly violence. At times, rumours can be sufficient<br />
basis for such sanctions. 389 UNHCR also learned of a case in which a Yazidi couple from<br />
different castes was killed by the man’s family on 11 August 2006 in Shekhan District.<br />
iii) Situation of Yazidis in the Region of Kurdistan<br />
As mentioned earlier, only a small portion of Iraq’s Yazidis live in the area under the<br />
administration of the KRG, mainly in the Governorate of Dahuk. The Kurdish authorities<br />
generally respect the rights of religious minorities. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)<br />
in particular has made an effort to reach out to the Yazidis with the aim of gaining their<br />
political support. Accordingly, the Kurds have supported Yazidi religious rights in their<br />
draft constitution, mentioning them explicitly in the Preamble and in Articles 7 and 124(II),<br />
although the prominent role given to Islam as a source of legislation remains a worrying<br />
factor for other religious groups. 390 The KDP also furthers Yazidi cultural rights, e.g.<br />
through the introduction of Yazidi religious classes in schools with a minimum of 20<br />
Yazidi pupils and the provision of financial assistance to the Yazidi Lalish cultural centre in<br />
Dahuk and its numerous branch offices in Jebel Sinjar, Shekhan and Mosul. It also exerts<br />
its influence on Yazidis living outside the Kurdistan Region, which the KRG seeks to<br />
incorporate. For example, the KDP has become a major employer in Sinjar and Shekhan,<br />
areas that had seen little development over the years and where unemployment is high. 391<br />
Some Yazidis expressed concern over forced assimilation into Kurdish culture and<br />
identity. 392 Some have accused the Kurdish parties of diverting US $12 million<br />
387 Paul Schemm, “Iraqi “devil worshipers” seek US support”, AP, 11 October 2006,<br />
http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=23022&sec=41&cont=4.<br />
388 See also “Women”.<br />
389 Yezidisches Forum e.V., Yezidische Frauen im Irak (position paper on the situation of Yazidi women in<br />
Iraq), submitted to the Administrative Court of Oldenburg [in German language], 4 February 2002,<br />
http://www.yezidi.org/index.php?id=101.<br />
390 See, for example, The Globe, Kurdistan constitution recognizes Islam as a source of legislation,<br />
28 August 2006, http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2006/8/independentstate929.htm; IRIN, Iraq:<br />
Role of Islam in regional constitution sparks debate, 18 June 2006, http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?<br />
reportid=27025.<br />
391 Savelsberg and Hajo, p. 7-11, see above footnote 354.<br />
392 AP, see above footnote 371; Ann Scott Tyson, Vying for a Voice, Tribe in N. Iraq Feels Let Down, The<br />
Washington Post, 27 December 2005, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/26/<br />
AR2005122600717.html.<br />
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