Ezidikhan Customary Laws

A Blueprint for Indigenous Justice

Patrick Harrigan

Abstract

Drawing from interviews with Nallein Sowilo, Justice Minister of Ezidikhan, this article explores the philosophical and historical underpinnings of the NICT as well as its potential to reshape the international legal system. The Yezidi tradition of reparative justice composes the core philosophy by which the NICT addresses humanitarian crimes and safeguards Indigenous sovereignty. Improving on existing institutions like the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the NICT prioritizes culturally specific and community-based solutions. Case studies, including Barbados, Germany, and Armenia, illustrate the court’s ability to promote solidarity and foster knowledge exchange among ally nations. The NICT is also proven to encourage a more expansive understanding of human rights violations, including genocide, ecocide, culturcide, and gender-based violence—thus accounting for transgressions previously overlooked and ignored among the international community. Serving as a blueprint for
nations enduring ongoing oppression, the NICT provides a vision of a value-driven global order based on dignity, accountability, and collective justice.