New Documentary Exposes Continued Enslavement of Yazidi Women by ISIS

The Yazidi community in Iraq is experiencing a profound sense of betrayal as the U.S. government halts crucial aid that once supported them, following the 2014 genocide by the Islamic State (IS). During the first Trump administration, significant funding was pledged, benefiting religious minorities, including the Yazidis. However, this support has dwindled under the second Trump administration, according to activists and former USAid employees. In the Iraqi town of Sinjar, where many Yazidis were killed, essential services, including healthcare and infrastructure projects, have stalled due to the freeze in aid. Mirza Dinnayi, a Yazidi human rights activist, expressed shock over the suspension of USAid, labeling it a critical loss for their communities. The aid freeze has also severely impacted charities like Catholic Relief Services, facing potential layoffs and program shutdowns amounting to half of their $1.5 billion budget. This shift reflects broader changes in Republican attitudes toward aid, as former supporters of Yazidi rights now align with movements aiming to diminish USAid. Current and former USAid officials lament the loss of vital support networks for the trauma-affected Yazidi people.

A recent archaeological project in the Iraqi Western Desert has uncovered over 850 artifacts from the Old and Middle Paleolithic eras, including ancient stone hand axes believed to be up to 1.5 million years old. The project, led by archaeologist Ella Egberts and funded by the British Institute for the Study of Iraq, focused on a small area, roughly six by 12 miles, where seven Paleolithic sites were identified. According to Egberts, the excavation of a dried-up lakebed proved particularly fruitful, yielding tools such as hand axes and more sophisticated Levallois flakes, which date back between 300,000 and 50,000 years. “The other sites also deserve equally thorough systematic investigation,” Egberts stated, emphasizing the potential for further discoveries that could enhance the understanding of early human behavior in the region. Research in Iraq has been limited due to regional instability; however, the team successfully navigated challenges, with Egberts noting positive local interactions. The Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritages has expressed support for continued investigations in future efforts.

The Al-Hadba minaret, a significant landmark in Mosul, Iraq, has been restored to its original state, following its destruction during Islamic State (IS) rule in June 2017. The leaning minaret, part of the Al-Nuri Mosque where former IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a "caliphate" in 2014, is now a replica constructed using both original and new bricks. "Al-Hadba is our identity, and by restoring it, the identity of the city has been reclaimed," said Abdullah Mahmoud of Iraq’s antiquities department. UNESCO officials have worked for five years to restore multiple heritage sites in Mosul, including churches and numerous historic homes, after extensive damage from battles against IS left the area in ruins. Despite these efforts, remnants of conflict remain, with many residents yet to return. Local shopkeeper Saad Mohammed expressed hope that the restoration will attract visitors to the city, stating, "Now we feel safe." The reopening of the restored sites is set for the coming weeks, signaling a significant step toward healing and revitalizing the community.