Iraqi President Offers Wishes of Peace to Yazidis Marking Summer Feast

Iraqi President Nizar Amedi. Photo: Iraqi Presidency
Iraqi President Nizar Amedi. Photo: Iraqi Presidency

At a Glance

  • President Nizar Amedi sent formal warm wishes to Yazidis across Iraq and globally.
  • Message issued on the occasion of the Feast of the Forty Days of Summer.
  • Emphasis placed on celebrating in an atmosphere of peace, stability, and prosperity.
  • Affirmation of the native Yazidi population's integral place within Iraqi society.

Iraqi President Nizar Amedi issued an official message of congratulations on Sunday to the Yazidi community in Iraq and worldwide, marking the sacred Yazidi Forty Days of Summer Feast (Çilê Havînê).

Key Statements and Focus Area

  • Nizar Amedi (President of Iraq): "I extend my warmest congratulations to all Yazidi sisters and brothers in Iraq and around the world. I hope the native Yazidi citizens of Iraq celebrate their festivals and occasions in an atmosphere of peace, security, stability, and prosperity."
  • Message Core: Wishing joyful celebrations while reinforcing health, happiness, and long-term security for the native population.
  • Key Focus Area | Peaceful Coexistence: Highlighting the cultural heritage of indigenous Iraqi religious communities and promoting social cohesion across all federal regions.

Official Message of Goodwill

On August 2, 2026, President Nizar Amedi addressed the Yazidi community with standard state blessings:

Text of the Message:

"In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. On the occasion of the Summer Forty Festival, I extend my warmest congratulations to all Yazidi sisters and brothers in Iraq and around the world. I hope the native Yazidi citizens of Iraq celebrate their festivals and occasions in an atmosphere of peace, security, stability, and prosperity. Happy Holidays, and may you always remain in good health and happiness." - Nizar Amedi, President of the Republic

Celebration of the Summer Forty Festival

The Summer Forty Festival (Çilê Havînê) is one of the most prominent observances on the Yazidi religious calendar:

  • Cultural Significance: It marks the conclusion of a forty-day period of fasting and devotional practices observed primarily by religious figures and members of the community during mid-summer.
  • Gatherings: Festivities take place across ancestral heartlands such as Sinjar and Lalish, featuring community gatherings, traditional rituals, and shared prayers for peace and seasonal abundance.

FYI

The annual exchange of official greetings between state leadership and minority communities reflects ongoing efforts by Iraq's federal authorities to reinforce social cohesion and protect religious freedom across the republic. For the Yazidi people, who have endured severe historical persecution and displacement, public affirmations from the presidency reaffirm their fundamental rights as native Iraqi citizens and emphasize the state's responsibility to maintain security, stability, and peaceful coexistence across all ancestral territories.