Death of a Yazidi: the genocide escape ends in the coffin in Germany

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ANDIt is the afternoon of April 7, a Tuesday. Arkan Hussein Khalaf, 15, rides a bike with a friend in Celle. The boys are out for fresh air, a welcome change from their own four walls in times of crown lockdown. Then the unbelievable happens on Bahnhofstrasse: a man armed with a knife emerges out of nowhere, attacks Arkan without warning, and stabs a knife into his heart. The boy walks a few meters away and then collapses on the sidewalk.

Arkan’s friend manages to hold the attacker until the police arrive. Daniel S., 29, is arrested while Arkan is taken to the hospital. There the child dies from his wounds. He had called his mother a few hours earlier.

The tearful burial took place last Thursday, a day after Îda Çarşema Serê Nisanê, the Yazidi New Year. Otherwise hundreds, if not thousands, often join the funeral procession, but this is not allowed due to national measures to contain the crown virus.

Everyone seems to have conspired against the Khalafs. Arkan’s five brothers and parents remained frozen in shock in front of the coffin and grave. The eyes and the words went nowhere. The extent of your trauma can be understood by considering what the family has been through.

Arkan was a Yezidis, a member of an ethno-religious minority that became sadly famous: he is the victim of a genocide by terrorists from the so-called Islamic State (IS). It was the 72nd genocide in the history of this religious community. It has been haunted since its inception.

In August 2014, ISIS invaded Yazid villages in the Shingal region of Iraq: Images of people who fled to the mountains in the scorching heat of the terrorist militia spread across the world. “Our men were beheaded, the women kidnapped and raped. Fleeing from IS, our children are thirsty in the mountains. I never thought that something could happen here that would hurt me more than that! ”Says Kochar Kajo, Arkan’s mother. He was able to save his youngest son from death on the mountain and atrocities in the valley, but not from a knife in Germany.

According to police reports, the author appeared “mentally confused” when he was arrested. Apparently he was a follower of the right-wing conspiracy myths. Zeit’s “malfunction indicator” blog had investigated that Daniel S. was following relevant meme pages with three social media accounts. Police confirmed that whether the crime was politically motivated is still under investigation. Daniel S., currently in custody, remains silent.

For Yazidis, the days of April to mid-month are actually the festive New Year, but they are black days for the Khalaf family. But also for the entire Yazidi community in Germany, with 200,000 people, the largest in the world in the diaspora. She is very concerned about the child’s death and family suffering. People who fled to Germany from the IS wonder if they really are safe here.

Until now, the Federal Republic seemed to them the promised land. Here they hoped for a future for themselves and their children after being deprived of living conditions at home. But now Arkan’s family feels that the genocide is going to continue. “If he was mentally ill, why didn’t he commit suicide? Why my son?” Asks Arkan’s mother. No one will be able to answer it. It may hurt more.

Arkan was buried in the close family circle. Instead of carelessly celebrating Yazidi New Year with the younger son, they had to bury him.

The author is a journalist and founder of the Háwar Association, which draws attention to the persecution of ISIS against Yazidis.

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