Coffs Ezidi community marks 12 years since Islamic State genocide

MORE than 200 people gathered in Coffs Harbour on Monday to remember the thousands of Ezidi people killed, enslaved or displaced during the genocide committed by Islamic State in Iraq 12 years ago.

But for the Ezidi community, the 12 years cannot wipe away their grief, which is still present and profound.

The many family photos displayed at the commemoration served as a stark reminder of those missing.

They could be photographs from any family album – children smiling, parents and grandparents together, ordinary moments frozen in time.

But these photographs are 12 years old, and for some they are the last images of loved ones.

For the approximately several hundred* Ezidis who have found safety in Coffs Harbour, the knowledge that family members remain behind means the pain of August 3, 2014, remains very much alive.

“For us, it is important that all communities and Australian people know what is Ezidi and what happened in 2014,” community spokesperson Hadi Shamo told the gathering.

He said many Ezidis in Coffs Harbour continued to live with the distress of not knowing whether family members left behind in Iraq were alive or safe.

The community is calling on the Australian Government to help bring relatives still in the region to Australia through humanitarian visas.

For one Ezidi man who has lived in Coffs Harbour for a decade, the passage of time has done little to ease the pain.

“Even after 12 years of being in a safe place, some of our women don’t have a happy day … they are still crying,” he said.

He said 90 members of his own family had been lost, and many people in Coffs Harbour had only one surviving member of their family.

One Ezidi woman expressed her thoughts anonymously, in one single question – “My husband is still missing for 12 years – I’m waiting for him to return – should I keep waiting?”

Another community member, Azad, told the gathering that 36 of his relatives remain missing, believed to be in inhumane camps or worse.

“We live in fear,” he said.

One speaker, Milan, was just six years old when Islamic State forces attacked Ezidi communities in northern Iraq.

Milan’s account of the next two and half years was a story of a childhood stolen by violence, separation and captivity. She described being separated from family members and being forced into labour, while caring for a newborn brother despite being a child herself.

Today, Milan lives in Coffs Harbour and spoke of the gratitude that comes with being safe, while acknowledging that safety cannot erase the memories or the worry for those still missing. A younger cousin, Nora, remains missing.

“What happened to us is part of our history, but it does not define our future,” Milan said.

“I speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. My story, and the story of the Yazidi people, is not just about what ISIS did to us. It is a story of how we kept going.”

Despite the deep sorrow, the commemoration generally carried a strong message of resilience, particularly among the younger generation.

Teenagers and young adults from the Ezidi community played key roles at the commemoration as emcees, translators, and organisers, confidently helping to lead an event attended by people of all ages.

Representatives from across the Coffs Harbour community, including North Coast Settlement Services, STARTTS, the Jewish and Muslim communities, and Narranga Public School, joined Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan in showing their support.

North Coast Settlement Services spokesperson Skye Hawkins said the organisation stood with the Ezidi community and expressed admiration for their courage and resilience.

“Now, more than ever, we must stand together in our shared humanity — to support and respect one another, show empathy, and stand against injustice, regardless of our country of origin, religious beliefs, or political views,” she said.

By Leigh WATSON