In a message marking the anniversary of the Shingal tragedy, President Masoud Barzani reiterated his full support for the aspirations and demands of our Yazidi brothers and sisters.
President Barzani stated that the crime committed by ISIS terrorists twelve years ago remains a profound pain that will forever linger in the memory of the people of Kurdistan. He emphasized that the current abnormal and imposed situation in shingal cannot last indefinitely.
The message highlights that the Yazidis were subjected to genocide due to their authenticity, their Kurdish identity, and their religious beliefs—a tragedy that serves as a continuation of the long chain of massacres committed against the people of Kurdistan throughout history.
President Barzani paid tribute to the victims and praised the heroism of the Peshmerga forces, who, with their blood, shattered the myth of ISIS and prevented the terrorists from reaching Mount Shingal.
He also expressed his gratitude for the support of the Coalition forces and the solidarity shown by the people of Kurdistan.
In his message, President Barzani urged the Yazidi community to maintain internal unity to ensure a bright future.
He stressed that every effort must be made to ensure that displaced persons return to their ancestral lands with dignity and that they receive compensation for the losses and suffering they have endured.
Text of the Message:
“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
The crime committed by ISIS terrorists twelve years ago against our Yazidi brothers and sisters is a pain that will forever remain in the memory of Kurdistan. Due to their Kurdish identity, their authenticity, and their religious beliefs, the Yazidis were targeted by the wrath and inhumane actions of ISIS terrorists and subjected to genocide. The crime committed by ISIS in the Shingal region is a continuation of the series of disasters, massacres, and crimes that have been carried out against the people of Kurdistan throughout history.
On the twelfth anniversary of this tragedy, I pay tribute to the souls of the martyrs and the victims of this crime. I salute the courage and fearlessness of those heroic Peshmerga who remained on Mount Shingal, preventing the terrorists from reaching it. I salute the loyalty and bravery of all the Peshmerga who sacrificed their blood to break the siege of Mount Shingal and liberate the city, shattering the myth of ISIS. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to every proud individual in Kurdistan who stood as one, sharing the grief and solidarity with their Yazidi brothers and sisters. We also extend our respect and gratitude to the Coalition forces, who played a significant role in assisting the Peshmerga in pushing back and defeating the terrorists.
On this anniversary, I reassure our Yazidi brothers and sisters that I support their aspirations and demands with all my strength. I urge them to remain united for the sake of a bright future and to hold hope. There is no doubt that the imposed, abnormal situation currently in Shingal will not last forever, and our Yazidi brothers and sisters must return to their ancestral lands with dignity, and they must be compensated for the losses and suffering they have endured.
A thousand salutations to the pure souls of the martyrs of Sinjar and all the martyrs on the path to the freedom of Kurdistan.
Masoud Barzani
August 3, 2026″