CINMENA: The Confederation of Indigenous Nations of the Middle East and North Africa

The Middle East—long regarded as a tinderbox of tribal and religious conflicts—is also the world’s cradle of civilizations. As such, even today the Middle East is home to a remarkable rainbow of ancient nations, each wishing to safeguard its own distinctive linguistic, religious and cultural heritage as well as its own beloved homeland.

The Confederation of Indigenous Nations of the Middle East (CINMENA) is governed by the following: 

Article 1—Membership

The Confederation of Indigenous Nations of the Middle East Alliance is open to all nations of the Middle East (hereafter called the Parties) that:

1. have organized social traditions, territory and a system of self-government;
2. identify as indigenous;
3. wish for autonomy; and
4. agree with the founding principles of this Confederation.

Article 2—Peaceful Means

“The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered.”

-CINMENA 2020 Treaty of Shingal

The rise of religious fundamentalism and intolerance in the Middle East came to a head in 2014 with the emergence of the so-called Islamic State and its genocidal policies targeting Yezidis and other threatened minorities.

“Out of concern for collective self-protection, the Yezidi have pulled together with the Mandaeans, Shabak, Shia Kurds, Assyrians, and Zoroastrians in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. We have made important diplomatic initiatives with states and indigenous nations. And we have taken significant steps toward negotiating a self-governing agreement with the Iraqi government.”

-Nallein Satana Al-Jilwah Sowilo, Co-Convener of CINMENA

The Confederation of Indigenous Nations of the Middle East and North Africa (CINMENA)

1. Ahwaz Nation of Iran
2. Al-Dulaimi Tribal Confederation of Iraq
3. Amazigh (‘Berber’) Nation of Libya
4. Amazigh Tribes of Morocco
5. Al-Anbar Al-Jolan of Iraq
6. Ezidikhan Armenia 
7. Ezidikhan Georgia 
8. Ezidikhan Iraq
9. Ezidikhan Russia
10. Ezidikhan Syria
11. Ezidikhan Turkey
12. Ḥizb Al-Ba’aṯ Al-‘Arabī Al-Ištir Tribe of Iraq
13. Idlib Druze-Domari Alliance of Syria
14. Kawliya of Iraq
15. Maʻdān Nation of Iraq & Iran
16. Mandaeans of Iraq Iran & Syria 
17. Palestinian Bedouin Nation of Israel and Jordan
18. Shabaks of Iraq
19. Turkmeneli Nation of Iraq and Syria
20. Yarsan Nation of Iraq & Iran
21. Zoroastrians of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan and India

Make a difference and join in our global project – inclusive to indigenous nations worldwide!

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