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 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, Vice-President 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. Ezidikhan Armenia 
6. Ezidikhan Georgia 
7. Ezidikhan Iraq
8. Ezidikhan Russia
9. Ezidikhan Syria
10. Ezidikhan Turkey
11. Ḥizb Al-Ba’aṯ Al-‘Arabī Al-Ištir Tribe of Iraq
12. Idlib Druze-Domari Alliance of Syria
13. Kawliya of Iraq
14. Maʻdān Nation of Iraq & Iran
15. Mandaeans of Iraq Iran & Syria 
16. Palestinian Bedouin tribes 
17. Shabaks of Iraq
18. Turkmeneli Nation of Iraq and Syria
19. Yarsan Nation of Iraq & Iran
20. Zoroastrians of Iran, Iraq,

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