Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council has reaffirmed its commitment to holding accountable those responsible for the atrocities committed against the Yezidi community during the Islamic State (IS) onslaught in 2014.

Speaking at a conference in Baghdad on Wednesday to mark the Yezidi genocide, Faiq Zidan, president of the Supreme Judicial Council, described the massacre as “a deep wound in the heart of the nation.”

The event, organized by the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation in partnership with the American University of Baghdad, brought together Iraqi officials, legal experts, and international partners to highlight ongoing efforts to pursue justice for survivors.

Zidan stressed that accountability remains central to Iraq’s judicial mission. “The law recognizes no exceptions, justice tolerates no leniency, and no criminal will be allowed to escape punishment in Iraq,” he declared.

He commended the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation for its role in preserving evidence and recording survivor testimonies in line with international legal standards. The center has also been collaborating with foreign governments and international organizations to track down IS members abroad and bring them to trial.

The Yezidi community suffered one of the gravest crimes of the IS campaign when militants stormed the Sinjar region on August 3, 2014. Thousands of men and elderly women were killed, while more than 5,000 women and children were abducted. Although many captives have been freed, around 2,600 Yezidis remain missing to this day.

The pledge from Iraq’s highest judicial authority comes amid continued calls from survivors and human rights groups for greater international support to ensure full accountability for the genocide.