At 32 years old, Hadi Pir found himself asking perhaps the most fundamental question: “Who am I?”
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Hadi Pir, a Yazidi activist who lives in Lincoln, was included in the Obama Presidency Oral History, a collection of more than 450 stories illustrating the former president's years in the Oval Office.
Protesters ask for help for Yazidi people who are stranded by violence in northern Iraq, Aug. 7, 2014, across from the White House in Washington. University of Nebraska and Lincoln-themed apparel are visible amongst the demonstrators.
The family of Barakat Al Bashar, a Yazidi interpreter killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2007, arrives at the Lincoln Airport on Dec. 19, 2018. The family members were met by Hadi Pir (bottom left), a Lincoln Yazidi who was an interpreter alongside Barakat.
In this Nov. 13, 2015, file photo, Kurdish peshmerga fighters fire into the air while celebrating the retaking of Sinjar from the Islamic State group in northern Iraq.
Lincoln-area Yazidi community commemorates 8th anniversary of Sinjar genocide
Laila Hesso (left) hugs Shireen Jardo Alhanto, who prepares to speak to a crowd about her family both missing and deceased, during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Aug. 3 in Malcolm. Alhanto lost two brothers, and 15 members of her family are still missing.
Layla Karee (left) comforts Shireen Jardo Alhanto who begins to sob while speaking of her family both missing and deceased during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Wednesday in Malcolm. Alhanto lost two brothers, and 15 members of her family are still missing.
A young woman reacts as Shireen Jardo Alhanto (not pictured) recounts her loss, during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Wednesday in Malcolm.
Men uses candles to spell out Shingal, the city where the genocide took place, during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Aug. 3 in Malcolm.
Shadows are cast by men as they arrange candles to spell out Shingal, the city where the genocide took place, during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Aug. 3 in Malcolm.
A shirt seen during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Aug. 3 in Malcolm.
Members of the Yazidi community set out food to share during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Aug. 3 in Malcolm.
Shireen Jardo Alhanto begins to cry while speaking of her family both missing and deceased, during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Aug. 3 in Malcolm.
Men uses candles to spell out Shingal, the city where the genocide took place, during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Aug. 3 in Malcolm.
Khaeri Hadgi sets out a platter of sweets and silverware during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Aug. 3 in Malcolm.
Members and friends of the Yazidi community gather for a ceremony to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, in Malcolm, NE. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Children hang out in the back of a pickup truck wearing shirts with the date 8-3-14, during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Aug. 3 in Malcolm.
Members and friends of the Yazidi community gather for a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Wednesday on Aug. 3 in Malcolm.
