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Statement: KRG condemns murder of Yazidi
Dua Khalil Aswad
2.5.2007 |
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May 2, 2007
Erbil, Kurdistan region (Iraq),-- The
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) condemns
the murder of Dua Khalil Aswad, aged 17, who was
stoned to death on 7 April in the town of Bashika
near Mosul, Nineveh governorate.
The KRG also condemns the killing on 22 April of at
least 20 Yezidi workers, in an apparent act of
retaliation by members of a Sunni Arab armed group.
The murder of Dua in a so-called honour killing is a
tragedy for her family and the entire community in
Kurdistan. There is no justification whatsoever for
this crime. Dua’s death and the subsequent
retaliation against the Yezidi community are a
reminder to all of us, as individuals and as a
society, that we have to continue to fight against
the violent and archaic mindset that sadly persists
today.
The Kurdistan National Assembly (parliament) in 2002
repealed articles in Iraqi law which allowed for
“honour” killings to go unpunished. Since then,
there have been at least 40 convictions for such
crimes in the Kurdistan Region, and at least 24
cases are awaiting trial. This illustrates both the
extent of the problem and the concrete steps that
the KRG is taking to address it.
All those who carried out or were indirectly
involved in the killing of Dua must be brought to
justice as soon as possible. Bashika, in Nineveh
governorate, is not a part of the Kurdistan Region
and therefore does not fall under the jurisdiction
of the Kurdistan Regional Government. The KRG urges
the Iraqi Federal Government to investigate and
institute legal proceedings in the district where
the killing took place, and it offers its full
cooperation in this matter.
The KRG is also extremely concerned that Dua’s
killing was used as a pretext for persecuting the
Yezidi community. We must all work together so that
the ongoing violence and images of violence in parts
of Iraq do not brutalise our society to the point
where killing is seen as the easiest solution to
disputes.
Changes to the law and much longer sentences on
their own will not prevent killings. Cooperation
between government institutions, NGOs and religious
organisations is essential in our efforts. The KRG
is grateful to NGOs and public figures who have
spoken out against these recent killings. We must
all work together to reduce violence and to increase
tolerance of diversity.
The Spokesman - Kurdistan Regional Government
krg org
Religious significance
The Yazidis consider Melek Taus to be a benevolent
angel that has redeemed himself from his fall, and
has become a demiurge who created the cosmos from
the Cosmic Egg. After he repented, he cried for 7000
years, his tears filling 7 jars, which then quenched
the fires of hell.
Melek Taus is sometimes transliterated Malak Ta'us
or Malik Taws. In Semitic languages, malik variably
means "king" or "angel". Taus is
uncontroversially translated "peacock"; however, it
is important to note that peacocks are not, at least
currently, native to the lands where Melek Taus is
worshipped.
This has lead some to speculate that the worship of
Melek Taus was imported from India, though it is
more likely the peacock iconography is a development
from earlier representations depicting the god as a
native fowl, such as a bustard.
The Yazidi believe
that the founder of their religion, Sheikh Adi Ibn
Mustafa, was an avatar of Melek Taus. In art and
sculpture Melek Taus is depicted as peacock. The
Yazidi are thought to be unique in their depiction
of their primary god as a bird.
More About Yazidi From Wikipedia
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