Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Good afternoon members and guests. Our main business this afternoon is meeting with representatives of Yazda UK and Ireland to discuss the plight of the Yazidi community in Iraq.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Ms Natia Navrouzov, head of the legal documentation project related to the latest UN Investigation, and Ms Nasreen, who is a survivor of ISIS captivity. Both are joining us remotely from Kurdistan. Mr. Ahmed Khudida Burjus, head of Yazda UK and Ireland, joins us from London. We are joined too by Mr. John Gallagher, also of Yazda UK and Ireland. The witnesses are all very welcome this afternoon to our meeting in Dublin.

The format of the meeting is that we will first hear from Mr. Khudida, followed by Ms Navrouzov and then from Ms Nasreen. We will then revert to members of the committee to discuss and engage in a question-and-answer session with our witnesses and guests. As we are quite time limited due to Covid restrictions, I ask that our witnesses be conscious of time constraints when initially addressing the committee in order that we will be in a position to expend the bulk of our time by way of engagement. Following the opening statements there will be a discussion followed by questions and answers with members of the committee. Again, I ask members to be concise in their questions to allow our guests the opportunity to answer questions and all members the opportunity to ask questions.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make them identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. Of course, it is imperative that they immediately comply with any such direction.

For witnesses attending remotely outside of the Leinster House campus, I remind them that there are limitations to parliamentary privilege and as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings that witnesses physically present in the parliamentary precincts currently enjoy. Witnesses participating in this committee session from a jurisdiction outside the State are advised that they should also be mindful of their own domestic law in the jurisdiction from which they speak and how it may apply to the evidence they give.

I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside of the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make them identifiable. I remind members that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located on the Leinster House complex or from the conference centre, where the Dáil and Seanad are meeting today in plenary session. For anybody watching this meeting online, some Oireachtas Members and witnesses are accessing this meeting remotely. Due to the unprecedented circumstances and the large number of people attending the meeting remotely, I ask that everybody bear with us in the event of a technical issue arising. I thank the technical team, who have been working since this morning to ensure that our witnesses and guests are present and audible.

With that, I am very pleased to call on Mr. Khudida, followed by Ms Navrouzov and Ms Nasreen, to address our committee. They are welcome. Mr. Khudida has the floor.