ERBIL
The parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government has thanked The Anadolu Agency for highlighting the plight of Ezidis in its Iraq coverage.
A special “thank you” plaque was received Friday for announcing and publishing Ezidis’ escape from Mount Sinjar in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul in the aftermath of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant threat last August.
The ISIL militants had captured Nineveh province's Sinjar and Rabia areas on Aug. 10, which forced thousands of Turkmen, Arabs, Christians and Ezidis to flee during the clashes.
The terrorist group is now said to be in control of northern Iraq, seizing many towns with minority populations, as well as Iraq’s largest dam near Mosul.
So far, about 2,000 Ezidi refugees from Iraq have crossed the Habur border post to seek refuge in southeast Turkey. The refugees live in tents and post-earthquake houses in the region.
The terrorist group has also reportedly killed hundreds of Ezidis in Iraq since June, according to Iraqi officials.
The Ezidis’ "death march" photos got widespread coverage in Turkish media as well as international media outlets such as; Le Monde de la Photo, The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, La Stampa, Independent and Die Welt.
www.aa.com.tr/en
