Following ISIS gangs’ attacks on Shengal starting from August 3, 2014, the Êzîdî youth are taking their place in the ranks of resistance. Two, three siblings from some families take their place in the ranks of YBŞ (Shengal Resistance Units) and YJŞ (Women's Defense Units Shengal). Some families join different areas of work as they see no alternative other than resisting and organising.

One family is fighting with 7 children and the father. Pervin Beritan is one of Xero Xıdır’s children and has turned her face to the Kurdistan mountains. Sisters Azadi Ezda and Nevrez Veysel have joined the ranks of YJŞ, while brothers Azat Şengal, Zerdeşt Şengal and Baver Şengal have joined the YBŞ. Cemil and Hasan Şengal work in the youth, and father Xero Xıdır is a member of TEV-DA.

“THE SELLING OF WOMEN IN MARKETPLACES AFFECTED ME DEEPLY”

YJŞ member Azadi Ezda says she joined the ranks of the YJŞ because she couldn’t stomach the abduction of Êzîdî women and the murder of children. Expressing that she was familiar with the freedom movement before the “firman” aimed to drive them out of their land, she said “My beliefs changed after I got to know them. I understood the women’s emancipation ideology and saw things in a new light. The abduction, rape, murder and selling of so many Êzîdî women after the firman affected me deeply. I decided to join to defend our holy lands of Shengal. We decided together with my sister. My sister left for the freedom mountains and I stayed in the YBŞ.”

“WE WILL GET STRONGER”

Saying that she was glad she was fighting the same fight with her sister, Ezda expressed her feelings as, “We joined this freedom movement as a family. We have dedicated our lives to this worthy cause. Our cause will always persevere. I am very happy and lucky to be fighting the same fight with my brothers, sister and most importantly my father. No force can turn us away from our cause. This just cause will prevail. The inhuman ISIS gangs should know that they won’t be allowed to attack these holy lands again. We as the YBŞ and YJŞ will defend these holy lands until the end. YJŞ and YBŞ will get stronger. We take our strength from our martyrs.”

Brother Azat Şengal said he felt great pride to be fighting in the same ranks as his brothers and sisters. Şengal said, “We have many martyrs in these holy lands. We as the successors of these martyrs will stay true to their fight, we will further the cause. No force can break us. We have joined as a family, we have dedicated our lives to this cause. I am very happy to be fighting the same fight with my brothers, sisters and father.” and called on the Êzîdî people to return to their lands.

“MY DREAM WAS TO BE A GUERILLA”

YJA-STAR member Pervin Beritan expressed that her only wish was to join the guerrilla and she has made this wish come true. Berivan said she dreamed of becoming a guerrilla after she got to know the guerrillas and stated: “After the Firman, HPG and YJA-STAR forces came and saved the people from a great massacre. They helped the people, they spend so much effort. They sacrificed themselves. Dozens of them were martyred to emancipate the holy Shengal lands. I decided to join after the guerrillas saved the Êzîdî people. I turned my face to the holy mountains, the spaces of freedom. I came to Shengal with the Shengal liberation operation. I am very happy to be a member of YJA-STAR. We are fighting for the freedom of not only Shengal, but all of Kurdistan. I am ready to go wherever I’m needed, wherever the movement sends me. We will save the occupied lands of Kurdistan from the invaders. My call for the Êzîdî people is this: Come, and we will emancipate these holy lands, the lands of Kurdistan together.”