Turkey’s top religious body head condemns violence against Yazidis in Iraq

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

A group of Yezidis who fled the Islamic State and took shelter in Turkey rest following their journey in the mountains, Aug. 8. AA Photo

Islam does not approve of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) treatment of beleaguered Yazidi refugees in Iraq, Turkey’s top Muslim religious figure has said.

Religious Affairs Directorate head Mehmet Görmez said those who kill people due to their religion, force them to leave their homes and create violence cannot be approved by Islam.

Such violence cannot be done in the name of Islam, he said, calling on Muslims across the world to strongly react to the suffering of the Yazidi population in Iraq.

“All authorities and the world should not keep silent on this violence. We hope that measures will be taken immediately,” said Görmez.

“It is unacceptable for these people, with whom we have lived together in this region, to face inhuman treatments. It should be known that all people who have preserved their religion and identity for thousands of years are part of our civilization and are under our insurance,” said Görmez.

Yazidis are regarded by ISIL as “devil worshippers” and risk being executed by militants seeking to establish an Islamic caliphate and redraw the Middle East map. Around 40,000 have become marooned on Mt. Sinjar in northern Iraq; members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the People’s Defense Forces (YPG) have arrived to provide protection, but the refugees have little food and water and remain encircled by jihadists below.

A United Nations humanitarian spokesman said some 200,000 people fleeing the Islamists’ advance have reached the town of Dohuk on the Tigris River, in Iraqi Kurdistan, and nearby areas of Niniveh province.