Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) issued the following statement today after the passing of Yazidi spiritual leader Baba Sheikh.
"I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the Yazidi community on the loss of spiritual leader Baba Sheikh," Fortenberry said.
"In August 2014, ISIS launched a genocidal campaign against the Yazidi people in Iraq, killing and brutalizing thousands. Five years later, hundreds of thousands of Yazidis are still displaced in refugee camps in their own country. Throughout all this terror and diabolical suffering, the spiritual leader of the Yazidi people, Baba Sheikh, stood steady as a great source of comfort, love, and inspiration. Today, Baba Sheikh died," Fortenberry added.
"It's not widely known, but two years ago, at the behest of Vice President Pence, I traveled to Northern Iraq to assess the situation faced by religious minority communities after the ISIS genocide. It was my privilege to meet with Baba Sheik. Together we met with the Yazidi women who had been enslaved by ISIS. I will never forget his gentleness, kindness, and eagerness to be with us even amidst all the suffering," Fortenberry said.
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) is the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations.