On the 11th anniversary of the Yezidi Genocide, various events were organized in the Kurdistan Region and around the world to raise international awareness about the ongoing plight of the Yezidis, who continue to suffer from the repercussions of the atrocities committed by ISIS in 2014.

In the United States, the Kurdistani Diaspora Center of Nashville held a memorial to honor the lives lost during the genocide, which occurred on August 3, 2014. The event served as a powerful demonstration of solidarity against genocide, silence, and injustice, and it aimed to support those who continue to survive and rebuild their lives.

Helen Osman, a participant in the memorial, expressed her commitment to the Yezidi cause. “As a member of the Kurdish diaspora, I believe it’s our duty to amplify the voices of the Yezidis. I stand here today in solidarity with the Yezidi community for justice, healing, and a future without genocide. No community should suffer for their identity or religious beliefs,” she stated.

Today, we remember the Yazidis targeted for genocide by ISIS 11 years ago. Thousands were killed. 2700 still missing.

My heart is with every family still grieving or searching.

We will keep working for a rebuilt Sinjar—so survivors can recover & return home. #Yazidis #Yezidis pic.twitter.com/LVrMGRlTVU

— Nadine Maenza (@nadinemaenza) August 3, 2025

On that tragic day in 2014, ISIS militants overran the predominantly Yezidi town of Sinjar, executing thousands of men and abducting thousands of women and children. Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani commemorated the anniversary, stating, “On the anniversary of the occupation of Sinjar and the genocide of our Yezidi brothers and sisters by ISIS terrorists, we respectfully commemorate the martyrs of this massacre, which is a deep wound in the history of the Kurdish people and all of humanity.”

Nadine Maenza, President of the U.S.-based International Religious Freedom Secretariat, posted on X, stating, “We will keep working for a rebuilt Sinjar so survivors can recover and return home. Today, we remember the Yezidis targeted for genocide by ISIS 11 years ago. Thousands were killed. 2,700 are still missing. My heart is with every family still grieving or searching.”

According to official data from the KRG, a total of 6,417 Yezidis – primarily women and children – were abducted by ISIS, with the fate of 2,596 individuals still unknown. The KRG has pledged to continue rescue efforts until all missing Yezidis are accounted for.