Speaking in an interview with Ninos Toma on the Noqza program, Muawiya argued that the two communities have experienced parallel histories of persecution and forced migration, pointing to their historical presence across northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, Syria and the Caucasus. "Our history is shared. Our fate is shared," Muawiya said, urging Assyrians and Yezidis to strengthen their cooperation regardless of political affiliations or religious differences.
Disputes Over Identity and Historical Heritage
A central theme of the interview was the relationship between Yezidi religious identity and the region's ancient history. Muawiya argued that Yezidi traditions preserve elements of ancient Assyrian heritage, drawing connections to Assyrian and Babylonian civilizations. He also suggested that Aramaic had been an ancestral language of the Yezidi community before Arabic and Kurdish became more widely used among Yezidis in different regions.
These interpretations reflect Muawiya's historical perspective, but the origins of Yezidi religious traditions, their relationship to ancient Mesopotamian religions and the community's linguistic history remain subjects requiring careful historical and scholarly examination.
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Muawiya also criticized attempts to marginalize or redefine the identities of indigenous communities, arguing that political narratives should not erase their distinct histories. He rejected the assimilation of Assyrian and Yezidi identities into broader national identities against the wishes of the communities themselves.
The discussion highlighted a wider concern among Assyrian and Yezidi advocates: preserving their respective identities and historical heritage while securing equal citizenship and recognition within their countries.
Displacement and Political Marginalization
Prince Muawiya warned that the continued emigration of Assyrians and Yezidis, combined with disputes over land and political representation, could leave both communities with increasingly fragile presences in their ancestral homelands.
He pointed to the strategic importance of the territories extending from Sinjar and the Nineveh Plains toward Duhok and the Syrian border, arguing that demographic change, land acquisition and political pressure have contributed to the vulnerability of indigenous populations.
On the program, Prince Anwar Muawiya accused Kurdish political parties, particularly the Kurdistan Democratic Party, of pursuing policies that undermine the interests of Assyrian and Yezidi communities.
The Yezidi Prince also criticized the political representation of Yezidis in Iraq, arguing that elected representatives and political figures have often been aligned with larger parties rather than independently advancing Yezidi interests. He drew parallels with divisions among Assyrian political parties and the influence of competing regional and Iraqi political forces.
His remarks underscored a broader challenge facing both communities: how to secure meaningful political representation without becoming dependent on parties whose wider agendas may conflict with their interests.
A Shared History of Persecution
The prince also recalled historical accounts of cooperation between Yezidi leaders and other persecuted communities, including Armenians, during the late Ottoman period. He described efforts attributed to his ancestors to assist Armenians fleeing persecution, presenting these accounts as examples of solidarity across religious and communal lines.
Prince Anwar Muawiya further pointed to the displacement of Assyrians and Yezidis during periods of violence and their subsequent settlement in Armenia, Georgia and other countries as evidence of their intertwined regional histories.
The interview also addressed the atrocities committed by the terrorist ISIS organization against Yezidis in Sinjar in 2014 and the devastation inflicted on Christian communities across the Nineveh Plains. Both communities suffered mass displacement, while Yezidis endured systematic killings, abductions, and sexual enslavement.
For the Yezidi prince, these experiences reinforce the need for greater solidarity rather than political competition.
A Call for Cooperation Beyond Borders
Looking ahead, Prince Anwar Muawiya urged Assyrians and Yezidis in Iraq, Syria, and the diaspora to build stronger relationships, particularly in Europe, Australia and the United States. He argued that cooperation could help both communities defend their cultural heritage, protect their rights, and preserve their presence in their ancestral lands.
His appeal comes amid continuing concerns over the future of indigenous communities in the Middle East, where conflict, emigration, political fragmentation, and contested territorial arrangements have weakened many historically rooted populations.
"Even if they cannot unite politically, at the very least they should remain in contact and work together," Prince Anwar Muawiya said.
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