Barzani address gathering in Sinjar anniversary We must take the risk and decide by declaring independence.”

President Massoud Barzani marked the second anniversary of the Islamic State massacre against Kurdish Yezidis by addressing a large crowd of foreign envoys, senior Kurdish figures and victims of the tragedy, in a ceremony in the Duhok province where he stated that independence is the "only way forward" for the non-recurrence of such disasters.

Mr Barzani reiterated full support for the Yezidis and suggested for Sinjar to remain in its current shape as an example for the world and next generation to understand the savagery of IS, while a “new Sinjar” should be established for the people to return home.

In his speech, President Barzani welcomed the attendees and said that while it was not the first attack on the Kurds, he had hoped "it will be the last" adding that what IS are doing is against the principles of every religion and shows that the group has "no dignity" and every supporter is an enemy "who should pay for their evil crimes".

He said the tragedy of what happened to the Yezidis is shared with all the people in Kurdistan.

He further explained that the Peshmerga later kept the promise to fight for the Yezidis during the operation to liberate Sinjar. “Nearly 500 Peshmerga fighters sacrificed their lives only to liberate the Sinjar road.”

Concerning the on-going operations to liberate Mosul and its surrounding areas from IS, President Barzani said he has promised the Christian residents of Nineveh plains to liberate their areas and help them return home.

The Peshmerga will keep their promise as they kept it for the liberation of Sinjar, Barzani vowed to the Christian IDPs settled in the Kurdistan Region.

Mr Barzani finally said the only way to prevent such tragedies is independence. “We either need to allow other people to decide on our fate, or we must take the risk and decide by declaring independence.”