YEREVAN. – Government of the Iraqi Kurdistan is trying to seize oil-rich regions populated by Yezidis, Armenian Yezdis say.

Head of National Committee of Yezidi NGO Sasha Sultanyan said over 23 million of Yezidis had been killed over the last 2-3 centuries. Back in 2007, the Arabs and Kurds organized a major attack on Yezidi villages in Iraqi Kurdistan, he said.

“Apparently, the attacks were masterminded by the authorities of Iraqi Kurdistan,” he said, noting that Yezidis are registered as an ethnic minority group and have no rights in Iraq.

“We have decided to address the government of Armenia, as it is the only country where constitutional rights of Yezidis are protected,” he noted.

Sultanyan is hopeful that the Armenian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora will use its levers to raise the mentioned problems in the international agencies. The letter addressed to Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan will be handed over later in the day.

Around 500 thousands of Yezidis live in Iraq, he concluded.

Photos by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am