In the summer of 2014, I was preparing for my last semester at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Like many of my fellow Yazidis, I had moved to America thanks to its Special Immigrant Visa programme, having previously worked for five years with the US military in Iraq as a translator and cultural adviser.
But in July, my whole world stopped. News had reached us that ISIS, which had already terrorised parts of Syria, was planning an attack on Sinjar in northern Iraq. They were targeting this rural part of the country because it was the ancestral homeland of my Yazidi community.
Living an agonising 10,000 kilometres away, there was little the Yazidi diaspora in Nebraska could do. I remember being on a Skype call with my younger brother, who was just 14 years old at the time, trying to help my family come up with a plan to escape.
Looking at the screen, I could see them panicking. They were collecting their IDs and documents, preparing to flee a brutal terrorist group that was bearing down on a place Yazidis had called home for generations.
My family packed as much as they could into their small lorry and began their drive into the unknown. They did not have room for my sister and her family, who lived on the opposite side of the village and didn’t have a car.
ISIS began its genocide of the Yazidi people in the scorching-hot morning of August 3, 2014. The group’s fighters conquered most of the district within hours, but could not reach the top of Mount Sinjar, to which tens of thousands of Yazidis had fled and become trapped.
Eventually, some Yazidis crossed into Syria, while others made their way to different parts of Iraq. Today, hundreds of thousands remain displaced. During its campaign of terror, ISIS not only committed mass killings but also abducted more than 6,500 women and children; more than 2,000 are thought to remain captive in camps like Al Hol in Syria, as well as in prisons and at the mercy of human traffickers. Not content with murder, kidnap and torture, the fighters also destroyed much of Sinjar’s infrastructure and cultural heritage. They wanted to annihilate us – no trace of our lives or traditions were to remain.
We marked the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide earlier this month and our community remains resilient in the face of adversity. While much of the western world has been sympathetic to the Yazidi cause, solidarity alone will not help our people recover from the deep scars of the 2014 atrocities.
Today, my fellow Yazidis and I call on governments and international organisations to provide the support needed to fully rebuild and sustainably resettle Sinjar. We must also prevent an ISIS resurgence in the region, hold its former fighters to account and rescue the more than 2,500 Yazidi women and girls who remain missing still to this day.
The 2003 western invasion of Iraq came with promises of prosperity, opportunity and freedom. However, soon after Saddam Hussein's regime fell, there was a significant rise in terrorist attacks against the Yazidi community and other minority groups in the region. This violence was accompanied by a wave of misinformation about our religious and cultural beliefs, ignited by the rapidly expanding influence of social media; this ultimately laid the foundation for the 2014 genocide.
When coalition forces withdrew from Iraq in 2010, they did not ensure the security of groups like the Yazidis. Gradually, a security vacuum emerged, and ISIS took advantage of that to carry out their genocidal attack against our community. By August 3, 2014 – the day the genocide began – all members of the security forces had fled their positions, leaving the Yazidis completely defenceless.
It is important that the US and other countries have recognised these atrocities as genocide, and have responded to the community with empathy. However, these sentiments have rarely translated into tangible support. So much of our community in Iraq still lives in limbo, with militia groups vying for control of their homeland. In addition to the thousands of missing women and children, tens of thousands of Yazidis are still displaced in camps and dozens of mass graves have yet to be exhumed.
The US, UK and other western countries that played a significant role in the war have a moral responsibility to support the Yazidis, who have unfairly and disproportionately faced the consequences of nearly two decades of conflict. Moreover, these countries must recognise that a strong, effectively governed Sinjar, populated by Yazidis fully empowered to reclaim their homeland, is one of the most effective tools to prevent the resurgence of a terrorist group that threatened not only northern Iraq, but people around the world.
I remember being on a Skype call with my younger brother, who was just 14 years old at the time, trying to help my family come up with a plan to escape
To fulfil their moral obligation and deliver on a key counter terror objective, these countries must help Yazidis rebuild their homeland, prosecute former ISIS fighters and work with regional security actors to rescue the women and children who remain in ISIS’s hands.
Unitad, the UN’s mechanism to promote accountability for ISIS crimes – whose Security Council mandate may soon expire – has unearthed troves of physical and digital evidence of the group’s atrocities, going to great lengths to identify the fighters who travelled to Iraq and Syria, only to return to European countries after the fall of the "caliphate". It is both morally unconscionable and a public danger to allow such individuals to carry on with their daily lives after participating in such heinous acts.
Domestic judiciaries must take seriously the legal imperative to try, convict and imprison these former fighters, thereby signalling to ISIS – and to all those worldwide who seek to use sexual violence as a weapon of war – that their actions have consequences.
And so, Yazidis watch and wait. We wonder whether the world will finally act to support our communities and take steps to prevent future terrorist activity and genocide – or, whether we should instead be waiting for the return of ISIS, and a repeat of the chaos and bloodshed that upended our lives a decade ago.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The biog
Occupation: Key marker and auto electrician
Hometown: Ghazala, Syria
Date of arrival in Abu Dhabi: May 15, 1978
Family: 11 siblings, a wife, three sons and one daughter
Favourite place in UAE: Abu Dhabi
Favourite hobby: I like to do a mix of things, like listening to poetry for example.
Favourite Syrian artist: Sabah Fakhri, a tenor from Aleppo
Favourite food: fresh fish
Playing records of the top 10 in 2017
How many games the top 10 have undertaken in the 2017 ATP season
1. Rafael Nadal 58 (49-9)
2. Andy Murray 35 (25-10)
3. Roger Federer 38 (35-3)
4. Stan Wawrinka 37 (26-11)
5. Novak Djokovic 40 (32-8)
6. Alexander Zverev 60 (46-14)
7. Marin Cilic 43 (29-14)
8. Dominic Thiem 60 (41-19)
9. Grigor Dimitrov 48 (34-14)
10. Kei Nishikori 43 (30-13)
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Hot%20Seat
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The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
The%20specs
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
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Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit
As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.
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Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Army of the Dead
Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera
Three stars
SHAITTAN
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UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
