President Masoud Barzani congratulated Yazidis on the Jama festival, affirming their status as an integral part of Kurdistan.He praised the community’s resilience and unwavering faith, highlighting their ability to celebrate traditions despite past hardships.
Barzani noted the “illegal and abnormal situation” in Sinjar that continues to affect Yazidis, emphasizing the need for protection and support.He stated that all sides share the responsibility to strengthen coexistence among Kurdistan’s religious and ethnic communities.
“Yazidis are a beloved and inseparable part of the Kurdish people,” the President said in his message.Thousands of Yazidi pilgrims gathered in Lalish for the sacred week-long Jama festival, performing religious rituals and ceremonies.
Preparations involved the Yazidi Spiritual Council, security forces, and Peshmerga to ensure the safety of over 200,000 participants.The festival includes visits to tombs of saints, sacred springs, and ritual performances led by qewals, the Yazidi religious singers.
Pilgrims performed the Peri Suwarkan, tying colored ribbons in holy waters to symbolize renewal and protection.The Qebax ceremony on Mount Arafat involved the sacrificial offering of an ox, reaffirming the covenant with Yazidi faith.
Barzani acknowledged the community’s historical suffering, particularly during the ISIS genocide, while praising their cultural perseverance.He called for continued government and societal efforts to support Yazidis’ rights and preserve their religious and cultural identity.
The Jama festival ends with the ceremonial washing of Tawusê Melek, the holiest Yazidi symbol, marking the conclusion of sacred rituals.Barzani’s message demonstrates the KRG’s political commitment to Yazidis as a protected, respected, and integral part of Kurdistan.