By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Local MP Urges Quicker Process to Bring Iraqi Genocide Victims to Canada

Aug 4, 2016 | 3:35 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Following a sobering trip to northern Iraq, Lethbridge MP, Rachael Harder, will be pushing the federal government to do more for the Yazidi people.

Harder was on the ground in Sulaymaniyah for four days during the last week of July. She went on the fact-finding mission as part of a One Free World International delegation.

The Yazidis are a religious minority in northern Iraq, and live a peaceful existence in an agricultural setting. They’ve been attacked by ISIS militants since August 2014 because their faith doesn’t align with ISIS ideology. The attacks have killed nearly 5,000 men, and forced another 7,000 women into sex slavery.

According to the United Nations, ISIS is seeking to completely exterminate the Yazidi population, and officially declared it a genocide this June.

During her trip, Harder says she heard from young women and girls who had been abducted, but managed to escape the terror.

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“It’s my responsibility to be a voice for the voiceless. It’s my responsibility to advocate for these women and girls who are in the midst of this gross atrocity,” noted Harder.

“They have dreams and hopes for a future, but they don’t live in a country that will ever allow them to realize those. So the only option we have is to bring them to Canada, and to give them a future.”

Harder went on to explain that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refused to take any action until it was declared a genocide.

To be classified as a refugee, individuals must live outside of their home country. Therefore, the Yazidis are technically Internally Displaced People.

However, Immigration Minister John McCallum, has the power to enact Section 25 of the Immigration Act, which would expedite the asylum process since this situation is considered to be an extreme circumstance.

Until further action can be taken, Harder plans to keep working with organizations in Canada on behalf of the Yazidi people, and keep in contact with Iraq officials.