In August 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) unleashed a brutal and systematic campaign of genocide against the Yazidi people in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq. Thousands of Yazidis were executed, whilst women and children were abducted, subjected to horrific sexual slavery, or forced into combat as child soldiers. This targeted […]
On 2 August 2014, the sun set over the ancestral homeland of the Yazidi people in the Sinjar district of northern Iraq. It was a vibrant day of celebration—a religious holiday marking the end of a solemn fasting period. Under a blistering summer sun peaking above 40°C, families slaughtered sheep, shared sweet treats, exchanged local
Roja Reş: Why the Yazidi People Commemorate the Horror of August 3 Read More »
As an English teacher, my classroom has become more than a place to learn grammar or vocabulary. Over the years, it has become a sanctuary – a space where trust, once shattered by the most profound of atrocities, is slowly and meticulously rebuilt. When my Yazidi students sit before me, they are not just students;
The Unhealed Wound: Stories of Survival and the Trust That Remains Read More »
Australia has a long and complex history of providing a safe haven for those fleeing persecution, a tradition that has profoundly shaped our social, cultural and educational landscapes. In my own work as an educator, writer and traveller, I have had the profound privilege of witnessing this transformation from two distinct vantage points: through my
The 2014 genocide perpetrated by the Islamic State (ISIS) against the Yazidi people in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq led to the violent displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, systemic sexual enslavement, and the tragic loss of countless lives. In response to this catastrophic humanitarian crisis, Australia opened its doors, specifically focusing its
For those of us working in education and advocating for displaced populations, the classroom—or the writing desk—is never neutral territory. When teaching Yazidi students, we are working with individuals whose primary language, Kurmanji, has become an act of defiance against a history of erasure. Understanding why many Yazidis harbor a deep aversion to the Arabic
In the quiet, ancient villages of the Sinjar mountains, childhood was once defined by an oral tradition dating back millennia. That peace was shattered on August 3, 2014, when the Islamic State launched a genocidal assault on the Yazidi people. As an author, I have spent much of my recent work attempting to capture the
Red Dust and the Peacock Angel: The Journey of Iraq’s Lost Generation Read More »
An integration of academic landscape with real-world teaching, youth mentorship, and the narrative of refugee displacement. Introduction: From the Page to the Classroom In my three-part book series exploring the harrowing realities of refugee displacement, I have often written that forced migration strips a person down to their barest vulnerabilities. Yet, as my writings emphasize,
The Living Archive: Personalizing the Yazidi Linguistic Landscape Read More »
As an educator working with adult Yazidi students, I quickly learned that our lessons extended far beyond the classroom curriculum. To truly know the Yazidis, an ancient, indigenous ethno-religious minority primarily hailing from the Nineveh plains and the Sinjar region of northern Iraq is to understand their fierce resilience. Throughout a long history marked by
A Culinary Journey Through Yazidi Culture: Food, Symbolism, and the Sacred Grain Read More »
The Yazidi people, an ethno-religious minority primarily based in northern Iraq, possess a rich and resilient culture shaped by centuries of tradition, spiritual devotion, and survival in the face of persecution. Their customs, beliefs, and social structures reflect a unique synthesis of ancient religious elements and deeply rooted communal values, making Yazidi culture both distinctive