On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, House of Coexistence (HOC) held the official ceremony to announce and honor the winners of the Sinjar Human Rights Award. The award received 51 nominations from several countries around the world, reviewed by a specialized human rights committee.
The winners are:
- Air Force Major General Pilot Ahmed Al-Thuwaini Al-Saadi
He led aerial missions delivering humanitarian aid to Mount Sinjar during the 2014 siege and contributed to evacuating thousands of displaced people and wounded civilians despite extremely difficult flight conditions. He made exceptional humanitarian contributions during times of crisis and played a direct role in protecting and rescuing civilians affected by the genocide. He also risked his life and survived a plane crash with severe injuries. - Poet Haji Qirani
One of the most prominent literary and cultural figures in Sinjar, he contributed to raising awareness through his literary works and used his talent to convey important humanitarian and social messages. He also participated in many charitable campaigns supporting affected communities. Additionally, he documented the genocide through poetry, preserving it for future generations and conveying the stories of survivors, capturing both pain and hope through art and literature. - Activist Fakher Khalaf Khdeida
A respected social and religious figure in Sinjar, known for his wisdom and strong humanitarian spirit. He played an important role in bringing different parties closer together and contributed effectively to resolving social disputes and conflicts, including during the Al-Rahman Mosque crisis. He is also known for his initiative and continuous efforts to promote stability, coexistence, and social peace in Sinjar, alongside his active participation in community service activities.
The National Courageous Woman Award, dedicated to women human rights defenders, was awarded to:
Brez Omar
She has worked with several organizations since the beginning of the genocide and contributed to delivering aid to displaced communities in camps across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Syria. She accompanied volunteer teams to deliver assistance to Mount Sinjar and continued supporting Yazidis and advocating for women’s rights despite facing social challenges. She has been highly active in promoting women’s rights and freedoms in Kurdistan. Along with a group of women, she presented one of the first proposals advocating for compensation for survivors, which contributed to the early development of the Yazidi Female Survivors Law after meeting former President Fuad Masum in 2016.
The ceremony also included honoring four distinguished individuals with Special Mention 2025:
- Hivan Omar: A Yazidi activist who has been active since the genocide in humanitarian work. As Country Director of the Free Yezidi Foundation, she has overseen programs supporting around 1,000 women through trauma care, education, and livelihood initiatives. Her work strengthened community resilience by creating safe and empowering spaces for women, and she has become a strong voice advocating for Yazidi rights and women’s empowerment.
- Samir Shakar Fares: A prominent figure who experienced the genocide firsthand, with members of his family held captive by ISIS. After their survival, he dedicated himself to helping others, working as a volunteer and activist with several organizations. He contributed to rescuing many survivors and provided broad support to affected families through humanitarian initiatives and psychosocial assistance.
- Katherina Donhoff: Since 2015, she has supported Yazidis inside and outside Iraq. She founded the Hand for Hand organization in Berlin to provide direct assistance to refugees, especially children, supporting their education and care. She also established a center in Sina village to support displaced children and provide a safe environment for their recovery. Additionally, she highlighted survivors’ stories through publications in well-known German magazines and supported training journalists to amplify minority voices.
- Faisal Katti: He has played a significant role in humanitarian work following the genocide, contributing to volunteer activities in camps and working with several humanitarian organizations. He supported survivors and played a key role in community policing efforts in Sinjar after return, helping resolve social issues and continuing his voluntary work.
House of Coexistence extends its sincere appreciation to the jury committee for their dedicated efforts in selecting the award recipients.
Sinjar
December 10, 2025