Kurdistan Region Presidency addresses controversial remarks by Yazidi leader

ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region Presidency has released a statement condemning remarks made by Yazidi military leader Qasim Shesho, which were perceived by some as an insult to the Prophet Mohammad and the Islamic faith. The statement emphasized the region’s commitment to maintaining its status as a model of coexistence and tolerance.

Shesho’s comments came during an event marking the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide, where he stated, “As long as Mohammed exists, the ‘Farman’ on us will continue.” He used the term ‘Farman’ to reference the historical series of persecutions, genocides, and attacks faced by the Yazidis.

The remarks sparked widespread uproar among Muslim communities and an increase in hate speech against Yazidis, particularly on social media, leading to multiple legal complaints being filed.

The Nineveh Investigation Court subsequently issued an arrest warrant for Shesho, accusing him of “insulting the Prophet Mohammad and inciting war between religions.”

The Presidency’s statement clarified, “The mistake of an individual from any religion should not be generalized to all followers of that faith. Therefore, all parties must adhere to the culture of tolerance, and coexistence.” It further stressed the importance of preventing rhetoric that incites hatred, division, and discord.

On August 3, 2014, the Yazidis faced horrific violence at the hands of ISIS as the terror group took over much of Iraq. More than 5,000 Yazidis were killed, and over 2,500 remain unaccounted for.

Reflecting on the atrocities faced by the Yazidis, the Kurdistan Region Presidency reiterated, “We reaffirm that the Kurdistan Region will continue to be a model of peaceful coexistence and brotherhood.”

Moreover, the statement underscored, “There will be no tolerance for any attempts to create instability or threats against citizens or the religious and ethnic communities of Kurdistan.”

Shesho issued a clarification following the backlash, explaining, “Some media outlets circulated a short segment of my speech, taking a single sentence out of context to falsely claim that I spoke inappropriately about the Prophet Mohammad.”