On the eleventh anniversary of the genocide against the Ezidis: Statement by PRO ASYL and Wadi e.V.

Both organisations call for an immediate end of deportation of Ezidis to Iraq.

Frankfurt am Main, August 2nd 2025

Eleven years ago, on August 3, 2014, the genocide against the Ezidis began in Sinjar, northern Iraq, at the hands of the terrorist militia “Islamic State” (IS). Thousands were murdered, women and girls were abducted, enslaved, or are still missing today. Despite official commemoration and political recognition by the Bundestag, little has improved for the survivors. Hundreds of thousands still live in temporary camps, many in constant fear and uncertainty.

On this anniversary, PRO ASYL and Wadi e.V. remind us that Germany was one of the first countries to recognize the genocide against the Ezidis. However, this recognition has so far been followed by hardly any concrete action. Many Ezidis have been living in Germany for years with uncertain residence status and are at acute risk of deportation – back to a country where their safety cannot be guaranteed.

The political and humanitarian situation of the Ezidis in Iraq has not improved. A Wadi report from July 2025 documents that the situation in the camps for Yazidi internally displaced persons has recently deteriorated significantly. After the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement announced the closure of the camps, many aid organizations withdrew or ceased their work due to lack of funding. The dismantling of the US development agency USAID under the Trump administration further exacerbated the financial bottleneck.

The camp residents see no possibility of returning safely to their regions of origin. Their home region of Sinjar still lies in ruins, and rival militias continue to fight for influence. The Iraqi state is unable to guarantee the safety of the Ezidis.

Against this backdrop, any deportation of Ezidis to Iraq is unacceptable. PRO ASYL and Wadi e.V. are therefore calling on German politicians to immediately halt all deportations of Ezidis nationwide.

A halt to deportations alone is not enough. Ezidis need long-term prospects. PRO ASYL and Wadi e.V. are campaigning for permanent right of residence for Yazidi refugees. Germany must take its historical and moral responsibility seriously and finally offer those affected protection and security.

Eleven years after the genocide, it is time to send a clear message. No one should be forced to return to the place where their family and loved ones were murdered. PRO ASYL and Wadi e.V. urgently appeal to the federal government and the federal states to act now and finally follow up their fine words with deeds. It is high time to guarantee the victims of genocide in Germany real protection and prospects for the future.

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