UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...

AP reported in October 2006 that “(H)undreds of Yazidi families have fled Mosul in the
past two years leaving little more than a half dozen now.” 387
Additionally, Yazidi traditions such as forced marriage, “honour killings” or the prohibition
to marry outside one’s caste and religion may result in serious human rights violations at
the hands of the family or community. 388 According to the German organization
Yezidisches Forum, Yazidi women who have been kidnapped or sexually assaulted by
Muslims may face severe sanctions by the Yazidi community, including exclusion from the
Yazidi religion and community and possibly violence. At times, rumours can be sufficient
basis for such sanctions. 389 UNHCR also learned of a case in which a Yazidi couple from
different castes was killed by the man’s family on 11 August 2006 in Shekhan District.
iii) Situation of Yazidis in the Region of Kurdistan
As mentioned earlier, only a small portion of Iraq’s Yazidis live in the area under the
administration of the KRG, mainly in the Governorate of Dahuk. The Kurdish authorities
generally respect the rights of religious minorities. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
in particular has made an effort to reach out to the Yazidis with the aim of gaining their
political support. Accordingly, the Kurds have supported Yazidi religious rights in their
draft constitution, mentioning them explicitly in the Preamble and in Articles 7 and 124(II),
although the prominent role given to Islam as a source of legislation remains a worrying
factor for other religious groups. 390 The KDP also furthers Yazidi cultural rights, e.g.
through the introduction of Yazidi religious classes in schools with a minimum of 20
Yazidi pupils and the provision of financial assistance to the Yazidi Lalish cultural centre in
Dahuk and its numerous branch offices in Jebel Sinjar, Shekhan and Mosul. It also exerts
its influence on Yazidis living outside the Kurdistan Region, which the KRG seeks to
incorporate. For example, the KDP has become a major employer in Sinjar and Shekhan,
areas that had seen little development over the years and where unemployment is high. 391
Some Yazidis expressed concern over forced assimilation into Kurdish culture and
identity. 392 Some have accused the Kurdish parties of diverting US $12 million
387 Paul Schemm, “Iraqi “devil worshipers” seek US support”, AP, 11 October 2006,
http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=23022&sec=41&cont=4.
388 See also “Women”.
389 Yezidisches Forum e.V., Yezidische Frauen im Irak (position paper on the situation of Yazidi women in
Iraq), submitted to the Administrative Court of Oldenburg [in German language], 4 February 2002,
http://www.yezidi.org/index.php?id=101.
390 See, for example, The Globe, Kurdistan constitution recognizes Islam as a source of legislation,
28 August 2006, http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2006/8/independentstate929.htm; IRIN, Iraq:
Role of Islam in regional constitution sparks debate, 18 June 2006, http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?
reportid=27025.
391 Savelsberg and Hajo, p. 7-11, see above footnote 354.
392 AP, see above footnote 371; Ann Scott Tyson, Vying for a Voice, Tribe in N. Iraq Feels Let Down, The
Washington Post, 27 December 2005, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/26/
AR2005122600717.html.
81