News
Unlawful use of the name “Congress of the Ezidi Nation”
This article was translated from German. Read the original (German)
Revocation and legal objection to the event “Conference of the Ezidis in the Diaspora” (13–14 September 2025, Hanover)
Subject: Misuse of the name “Congress of the Ezidi Nation” – denial of identity, party-political influence and illegitimate representation
Dear Sir or Madam,
in our capacity as representatives of the Congress of the Ezidi Nation and on behalf of numerous members of the Ezidi community, we hereby declare the formal revocation of, and our firm legal objection to, the event held in Hanover on 13–14 September 2025 under the title:
“Congress of the Ezidis in the Diaspora – The Ezidis: through dialogue towards reorganisation and institutionalisation”
1. Unlawful use of the name “Congress of the Ezidi Nation”
Since 2017, the name “Congress of the Ezidi Nation” has been held by an officially founded and registered organisation that works on a democratic basis and has legally binding statutes, elected bodies and a clearly defined structure of representation.
The use of this name, or of a confusingly similar one, by third parties – in particular without any connection to, recognition by or mandate from the said organisation – constitutes an unlawful usurpation of a name under Section 12 of the German Civil Code (BGB, protection of the right to a name).
Section 12 BGB: “If the right to use a name is disputed by another person, or if the name is used without authorisation, the person entitled may demand that the interference be removed.”
In addition, misleading the public about the identity and status of the organisers may constitute a breach of competition law (Section 5 of the German Act against Unfair Competition, UWG – misleading commercial practices).
2. No authority to represent – denial of their own identity
Numerous presumed organisers of the conference publicly deny being Ezidis in the ethnic sense and instead describe themselves exclusively as members of a Kurdish nationality or movement.
This fundamentally calls into question their legitimacy to represent the Ezidi people. Anyone who does not regard themselves, either individually or legally, as part of the Ezidi community can neither credibly represent it nor act on its behalf.
The deliberate involvement of party-politically motivated members of Kurdish organisations in a supposedly Ezidi conference misleads the public and instrumentalises Ezidi interests for external political goals.
3. Violation of the Ezidi community’s right to self-determination
Under Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, all peoples have the right of self-determination. The Ezidis, too, have the right to shape their political, social and cultural institutions independently and without outside interference.
The non-transparent planning and holding of the said conference by ideologically motivated actors violates this fundamental right.
4. Our demands
On this basis, we demand:
- An immediate end to the misleading use of the name “Congress of the Ezidi Nation” or similar names.
- Disclosure of the actual identities and political affiliations of the organisers.
- A public clarification that this conference does not constitute an official representation of the Ezidi people.
- An end to party-political interference in the internal reorganisation of the Ezidi community.
5. Legal action reserved
Should the misleading statements and the usurpation of our name continue, we expressly reserve the right to take legal action, in particular on the basis of the following provisions:
- Section 12 BGB (right to a name)
- Section 5 UWG (misleading commercial practices)
- Where applicable, civil-law measures for an injunction and a public correction
Concluding remark
The Ezidi community deserves respect, independence and authentic representation – not political appropriation or ideologically motivated attempts to divide it.
The conference criticised here – in its current concept and composition – does not meet these requirements and must therefore be firmly rejected.
Yours sincerely
Congress of the Ezidi Nation