WASHINGTON DC - Delegations representing religious and ethnic minorities from Syria, Kurdistan Region, Turkey and beyond gathered Monday at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington DC, using the global stage to spotlight persecution and call for urgent international action.
The annual summit, which is the premier gathering for global religious freedom advocacy, brings together representatives from dozens of countries and faith communities. Attendees held discussions on the challenges facing religious groups in their homelands.
This year, the focus was particularly on minority communities from Syria and Kurdistan Region, including Kurds and religious groups like Druze, Alawites, Christians, and Yazidis.
Abdullah Demirbas, representing the Kurdish delegation from southeastern Turkey, said the summit offered a chance to introduce Kurdistan and its religious diversity to the world.
“Today, we have specifically come for the IRF summit as a delegation from Northern Kurdistan,” Demirbas said, referring to Kurdish areas in southeast Turkey. “I was previously the Mayor of Sur [main district in Diyarbakir or Amed]; you know we have done a lot of work for different religions, which is why we were invited here. We have come along with Alawite pirs [clergymen]. We will have meetings and attempt to introduce Kurds and Kurdistan here [to the word].”
Participants hailing from Syria used the forum to condemn ongoing violence against minorities by the armed groups affiliated with the Damascus interim government. Nash’at al-Tawil of the Druze community warned of widespread attacks and killings targeting vulnerable communities.
“Today, we have come to deliver our strong and frank message to the world regarding the slaughterhouse directed against the minorities of Suwayda, against the Druze, the Kurds in the north, the Alawites, the Christians, and against the killing of innocent children just because they belong to minority groups,” al-Tawil said.
“We must work on this quickly and seriously until justice is established, and peace and security prevails in this world.”
Morhaf Ibrahim, speaking for the Alawite community, emphasized the importance of international recognition of their struggles. “We are here to participate in this great forum to represent the cases of minorities and people who feel they are persecuted in their own countries,” he said. “We are from the Alawite sect, and we feel that the Alawites have been marginalized in Syria.”
The US-based Free Yezidi Foundation, which advocates for the rights of the religious group, highlighted the experiences of Yazidi survivors of Islamic State (ISIS), displaying handicrafts made by women and children who endured captivity. Executive Director Pari Ibrahim said the summit was a vital platform for giving voice to the voiceless.
“I think it is very important to be here, regardless of where you are from or what religion you belong to,” Ibrahim said. “It is important to come and be the voice of your own people. I am here today because we have these children's toys that were handmade by Yazidi girls and mothers. Tomorrow, I will also speak about Rojava [northeast Syria]; I will talk about the Yazidi people and the Kurds of Rojava, what has happened to them, and what needs to be done here in Washington to support them.”
A delegation from the Kurdistan Region also participated. Ano Jawhar, the Region’s Minister of Transport and Communications, highlighted the summit’s role in fostering global cooperation.
“What we see here are all those countries that believe in coexistence and religious freedom,” said Jawhar, who is from Kurdistan Region’s Christian community. “The drafting of sensitive reports regarding religious freedom begins here. This is where partnerships start, where people get to know one another, and where they share their experiences.”
The IRF Summit annually brings together governments, civil society, and faith leaders to promote religious freedom and protect minorities worldwide. While some countries showcased examples of peaceful coexistence, many delegations recounted stories of discrimination, marginalization, and violence, and urged international advocacy and action.
