Iraq eases university admissions criteria for Yezidi women returning from displacement

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has approved a request by Minister of Migration and Displacement Evan Faeq Jabro to relax university and graduate admissions criteria for Yezidi women returning from forced displacement, allowing them to apply with scores up to 10 points below the standard threshold and without meeting typical age or grade-level requirements.

The measures are part of a broader initiative to support women returning from forced displacement, according to a statement released Thursday by the minister’s office.

“To advance the status of women returning from forced displacement, and based on the principles of equity and equality, Minister Evan Faeq Jabro secured the approval of the prime minister and head of the Supreme Council for Women’s Affairs, Mr. Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, to implement a set of proposals aimed at easing their suffering,” the statement read.

The policy aims to expand access to education for Yezidi women, many of whom have endured years of displacement, trauma, and loss. The ministry said the move supports their independence and reintegration into families and society.

“This is a vital step toward supporting their education and reintegration,” the statement added.

Minister Jabro expressed gratitude to the prime minister for his continued support of women’s issues, noting “his commitment to improving the reality of women across all fields.”

According to the Yazidi Rescue Office, 6,417 Yezidi women were abducted by ISIS in 2014. As of now, 3,583 have been rescued, while thousands remain missing, with many families unsure whether their loved ones are alive or buried in mass graves.

In response to the atrocities committed against the Yezidi community, Iraq enacted the Yazidi Female Survivors Law on March 1, 2021. The law provides reparations and support for Yezidi women and other minority survivors of ISIS crimes, including Christians, Shabak, and Turkmen. It offers monthly stipends, land or housing allocations, educational access, and psychosocial and health services.

Sinjar, part of Nineveh province and located about 120 kilometers west of Mosul, is Iraq’s second-largest district and home to a significant Yezidi population. The Yezidis, who practice an ancient Mesopotamian religion, have faced repeated persecution throughout history.