Haider Elias is a leading global activist for human rights, co-founder and President of Yazda, the leading Yazidi organization that spearheads the advocacy campaign to protect minorities in Iraq and Syria.

He is also a co-founder and a leading campaigner for Nadia Murad`s Initiative and a result of their work together, Nadia Murad won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018.

Haider lost his young brother in the attack against the Yazidi people in August 2014 and became involved in helping the victims and the advocacy to prevent future genocides against minorities.

Haider has been traveling around the world to create awareness of the Yazidi struggle and was part of the Yazidi delegation to hold meetings with officials at the White House during the genocide against the Yazidi minority, which led to the US military intervention against ISIS and the humanitarian airdrops to save thousands of Yazidis who were trapped on Mount Sinjar.

Haider holds bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree from Purdue University.