An important national body of the Yezidi community, the Council of Elders, is being formed in Iraq, which has already stirred up the entire diaspora of this people. The expectations of the Yezidis from the creation of this representative body are quite high, since it will be the first state institution that will not only represent the interests of the Yezidi people, but also ensure their security. Lawyer Ferik Abasian spoke in more detail about what the Council of Elders of the Yazidis of Iraq is and what expectations the people have associated with it.

- Please tell us about which Council of Elders of the Yezidi people are we talking about?

The events of 2014 cannot leave us idle. In this regard, it was decided to create such a structure. The Council of Elders is a body with representative and legislative functions, formed in Iraq on the initiative of the highest Yezidi representatives of the clergy for official interstate and international cooperation. The Council of Elders, as the highest body, is elected from each Yezidi clan, whose members can be the most experienced and authoritative men and women aged 47 and over, elected at the Congress. Its main function is to defend the interests of the Yezidi people within the framework of the UN.

Today, the issues of security, refugees, and recognition of the Yazidi genocide are defended by only one Yazidi woman at the UN level who has survived brutal crimes by members of ISIS - this is the goodwill ambassador of the UN Office, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Nadia Murad. Naturally, due to such a property, a collegial body of this scale is also necessary.

- What steps are you taking to create a Council of Elders?

Within the framework of consultation negotiations with sheikhs, feasts and fakirs who are members of the Spiritual Council of the Yezidis, which was held in Iraq, a joint decision was made on the need to create a Council of Elders for the common good and prosperity of the Yezidis, close friendship with other peoples. The Council of Elders is "staffed" only from the Yezidi clans living in Iraq, but mandatory membership of other clans located outside Iraq is also required. A spiritual and political representative from the Katani clan (Shehubakr) is authorized to negotiate with representatives of other clans living in the former CIS countries on behalf of the Council of Elders with his delegation.

We are currently negotiating with the Yezidi and state communities in Russia and Armenia. Non-profit organizations, including charitable ones, are being registered in Moscow; the "Unity Project" has been launched, the purpose of which is to unite, rally Yezidis from all over the world. In addition, other measures have been taken, the results of which will be reported to the media later.

- Is there any activity in the Yezidi community in connection with the formation of the Council of Elders?

Sure. We received great interest from our compatriots thanks to the launch of the "Unity Project". Already in a short time we have received more than 50 thousand requests. The most geographically active are the diasporas of Iraq and Armenia, followed by Russia, the former CIS countries, the EU, and the USA.

- Why is there such a need right now?

This need relates to another act of genocide against the Yezidis. At the same time, the inhuman attempts to exterminate the Yezidi people, which are mainly focused on murder, slavery and sexual exploitation, unfortunately, persist. According to statistics conducted by the UNITAD Investigation Team at the UN Security Council: only 1,298 people were killed on the first day of the attack on the city of Sinjar (August 3, 2014), 6,500 were abducted (of which women and girls were sold into sexual slavery), 68 cultural sites were destroyed, 115,000 people migrated outside Iraq, and 2,950 Yazidis are still missing. These figures are not final, as the statistics are gradually updated.

- What will the formation of a new Council of Elders give?

As already mentioned, its main task is to defend and protect the interests of our people at the interstate and international levels. The Council of Elders has already become the foundation for the unity of the Yezidi clans scattered around the world, and such consolidation is necessary in the name of preserving their national identity.

- What legal issues can be resolved by forming a new Council?

The Council of Elders is the supreme legislative body of the people's representation, expressing the sovereign will of the Yezidis, designed to regulate the most important social relations mainly through the adoption of laws, as well as control over the activities of other political bodies and officials. On the agenda of the discussion are issues of humanitarian assistance, including with the support of the international coalition, investigation of crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice, recognition by international states of the act of genocide against the Yezidis.

- After the formation of the Council, will steps be taken in the future to create autonomy in Iraq?

This issue is one of the priorities. A new administrative-territorial entity within the provinces of Iraq, for example, with the status of cultural autonomy, will be the main security for the Yezidis as one of the most vulnerable national minorities.

- What are your expectations?

The consolidation of the Yezidis and the development of a certain vector are historically subordinated to logic. At this stage, the Yezidis, as one of the ancient peoples, have awakened a national consciousness associated with both a common historical and cultural past and religion. The military and terrorist processes that took place in Iraq neutralized the government's pressure on the Yezidis, at the same time new threats to the preservation of their national identity appeared. These circumstances today served to unite the Yezidi people, whose spiritual leaders realized that it was necessary to create political structures capable of expressing the national interests of all Yezidis, ensuring their safety and the opportunity to engage in dialogue with other participants.

Source-aysor.am