Ezidi Genocide: 11 years since ISIS invaded Iraq

Hassan Ali remembers a time when his bustling family would gather for delicious meals and young children would be running around laughing. But now all he can think about are all the people missing from the table.

Hassan Ali with his wife and two kids, Stephen and Stella in Australia.

Going home to Iraq was a sad reminder for Hassan Ali.

He is one of the many Ezidi (also Yazidi or Yezidi) refugees that fled Iraq after ISIS took over in 2014.

Mr Ali moved to Toowoomba in January 2024 but every day he remembers the family and friends he lost on August 3 2014.

“ISIS attacked our village and whole area of Sinjar,” he said.

“They took women as captives and sex slaves, recruited young children to be child soldiers.

“I’ve lost too many family members.”

Hassan Ali with his two kids, Stephen and Stella in Australia.

Mr Ali’s brother and entire family were captured by ISIS including his wife and seven kids.

Four of Mr Ali’s nieces and nephews were rescued between 2015 and 2017

Two were found in 2015 and two more were found in 2017, but without their parents Mr Ali became their legal guardians.

“They have no mum no dad, and one sister and one brother still missing,” he said.

“This was a horrible thing for all of us.”

He said Ezidi people have seen that and worse.

“Every single [Ezidi] person here in Toowoomba, either directly or indirectly, has passed through the same experience, maybe even worse,” he said.

“There was such horrible and horrific scenes.

“People died of thirst, no food, no water.”

A week ago an Ezidi woman was rescued after being held captive by ISIS for 11 years.

She was just 10 when they took her, and Mr Ali said there are so many others still being held captive.

Hassan Ali with his wife and two kids, Stephen and Stella in Australia.

Mr Ali said he went back to Iraq a couple of months ago when his mother sadly passed away, and some of his other siblings travelled from around the world to meet back home.

He was reminded of a simpler time, before ISIS took over.

“I remember back before 2014, we were all staying in one house and over one table, having lunch, breakfast, dinner together but now everything is different,” he said.

“We came from different corners of the world to go back but you don’t see that same table, the same energy, the same laugh, the same smile. It’s not the same.

“My brother is missing from the table, the kids, who were running around the table, they’re missing.”

Hassan Ali with his wife and two kids, Stephen and Stella in Australia.

Mr Ali said he thinks of his brother often.

“I still see him in my dreams from time to time,” he said.

“He is in my dreams too many times.

“He really believed in me, that one day I’ll be something and I’ll do something. But he couldn’t see it [happen].”

Mr Ali said he knew his brother would be proud of everything he has done and he spent 10 years working with the UN helping refugees fleeing conflict zones.

He said he is thankful he decided to move to Australia but it still wasn’t an easy decision.

“I was also waiting for my brother to come, but I knew that I had no other choices,” he said.

“Leaving you homeland, leaving your beloved ones is not an easy job. They’re still in your memory.”

Hassan Ali is a refugee who fled Iraq during the Ezidi genocide in 2014.

Mr Ali said remembering the genocide 11 years on was important for the Ezidi community in Toowoomba.

“We have passed through many ordeals and heinous atrocities, it reminds us of what happened to us,” he said.

“It reminds us of our strength and unity. It reminds us of transitioning from trauma into healing.”

The 11th Anniversary of the Ezidi Genocide will be commemorated on Sunday August 3 at 10.30am-12.30pm at Harristown State High School.