The head of the world's Yazidi community died in Germany on Monday at the age of 85 after a lengthy illness.
Prince Tahseen Said Ali had led the Yazidi community since the age of 11, following the death of his father. Born in the Yazidi homeland in northern Iraq in 1933, the prince later moved to Germany, which is home to the religious minority's largest expatriate community.
He appointed his son, Hazem, to succeed him, according to Yazidi Iraqi parliamentarian Vian Dakhil.
The Yazidi faith combines elements of various ancient Middle Eastern religions. Its followers pray to God facing the sun and worship seven angels – first among them Melek Taus, or Peacock Angel. They do not have a holy book.
The final years the Prince Tahseen's life saw his people brutally persecuted by ISIS after the extremist militants overran northern Iraq in 2014 and attacked the Sinjar region where about 550,000 of the nearly 1.5 million Yazidis worldwide lived. The extremists killed thousands of Yazidis and captured thousands of women who were forced into sexual slavery.
"Today marks yet another sad day for our people," Murad Ismael, executive director of Yazda, a global Yazidi organisation, told The National. "Mir Tahseen took on the leadership role since he was 11 years old in 1944 and managed Yazidi affairs under difficult and changing circumstances, from the royal regime in Iraq to Baath to the post-2003 era."
The death of Prince Tahseen left a space that no individual can fill, said Faris Keti, who served as an adviser to the prince and the Highest Yazidi Spiritual Council.
"His passing comes during a time where the Yazidi community is in a critical situation. He had a huge influence on decision makers and leaders in the region with a long-term strategic vision," Mr Keti told The National.
Iraqi officials, including Finance Minister Fuad Hussein and the Kurdistan region's prime minister Nechirvan Barzani, sent condolences to the prince's family.
Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, chair of the AMAR International Charitable Association which has provided health and education support to the Yazidis, said she visited the prince in hospital on Friday.
"It was a sombre moment of prayer and respectful meditation on the multiple services this great individual had given throughout his life to his people. As we prayed for his soul, outside in the hospital enclave thousands of the prince’s people from all over the world were flying in and gathering nearby to support him in his final hours."
Nadia Murad, a Yazidi woman who escaped ISIS captivity and won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for her activism against sexual violence, tweeted a message of condolence describing the prince as a "wise leader".
"During challenging times, Prince Tahseen Beg led the Yazidi community with grace and dignity. He was a wise leader and a firm believer in peace. He will be greatly missed. May his soul Rest in Peace today and always," she wrote.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
65
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Aguero 1', 44', 61'
Arsenal 1
Koscielny 11'
Man of the match: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
The%20Roundup
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
