YJŞ commander Viyan Hebabî described Shengal Women’s Units (YJŞ) and Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ) as the self-forces of Êzîdxan and said that Êzidî women are gaining ideological and military consciousness as they join their self-defense force YJŞ and fight. Hebabî said “I can say that the introduction of Leader Apo’s philosophy to Shengal enabled Êzidî women to get rid of slavery and embrace freedom. He gave his self-confidence to the society.”

Viyan Hebabî emphasized that YJŞ and YBŞ are the self-forces of Êzîdxan, and in response to KDP and Turkish officials demands that they leave Shengal, said that “Those that abandoned Shengal and left its people to die should leave here.”

After the August 3, 2014 Shengal Massacre, Êzidî women mobilized militarily and socially. Êzidî women took an active role in the defense of their city against ISIS attacks, and established their defense force ‘YPJ-Shengal with the motto of ‘We will avenge massacred and captured women’ at the beginning of 2015. In February 2016, they adopted a position of active defense as they mobilized under the name of Shengal Women’s Units (YJŞ). They have launched a historic resistance to take revenge from all that threaten the people and women of Shengal including ISIS, all patriarchal structures, and ideologies that oppress and enslave women.

ANF spoke to YJŞ commander Viyan Hebabî about the mobilization of YJŞ and the conditions surrounding women that changed after the massacre.

Under which circumstances did the YJŞ emerge and develop?

ISIS gang carried out a massacre operation against Shengal on August 3, 2014. Thousands of Êzidî were put through genocide and exiled, and women and children were sold in markets. As Êzidî women, we promised revenge after the massacre. This is why we established the YJŞ. YJŞ is an organization set up by Êzidî women with little resources. We develop ourselves with the philosophy of Leader Apo and enhance our struggle against the enemy.

How did women transform during the war in the time period you mention?

Women were seen as household slaves just like a tree with broken branches. Because of this, it was not possible for women to leave the house, get to know the world, breathe freedom and embark on a search. Women were victims of systematic patriarchal violence because our will had been taken hostage.

With the opportunity of struggle that emerged, women’s personalities transformed. With Leader Apo’s philosophy, women had their will and began to struggle against the hegemonic powers that ignore women.

For example, I am an Êzidî woman and I did not have the confidence to fight against the enemy. But know, not only me but all Êzidî women are gaining ideological and military consciousness as they join their self-defense force YJŞ and fight. I can say that the introduction of Leader Apo’s philosophy to Shengal enabled Êzidî women to get rid of slavery and embrace freedom. He gave his self-confidence to the society.

We have seen that the YJŞ has grown day by day. What made the YJŞ so attractive?

The captivity of thousands of Êzidî women after the ISIS attack on Shengal and the sale of these women in markets in Mosul and Raqqa hurt women’s pride and created a trauma. More importantly, it created the feeling of anger and revenge. The women that promised revenge set up an army and are growing. In fact, Êzidî women realized freedom and saw the YJŞ as a means to this end. They are growing with the philosophy of Öcalan.

As the YJŞ, where do you stand in the struggle against ISIS, which continues to occupy the agenda of the world?

ISIS gangs created fear among many people. Nobody was able to fight against ISIS gang groups. Kurdish women destroyed this fear.

Women fought against ISIS in Shengal and rescued thousands of women. They put up a historic resistance particularly in Rojava. We are at the front lines of the fight against the enemy in Shengal city center, Sekîneye, Medîban and other places. We participated in every operation that has been carried out. Without the YJŞ, not a single operation can be launched in Shengal.

We can give the Êzidî women’s revenge operation launched by the YJŞ as an example. YJŞ gained great success during this operation. Sekîneye village, where we are currently at, was liberated during this operation. As the YJŞ, we will participate and fight in every operation from now on.

I can say that Kurdish women will continue their struggle until ISIS mentality is wiped away. We are ready to sacrifice ourselves in order to liberate women not only in Shengal but anywhere where women are enslaved. We trust in ourselves.

Some people stated that Shengal should be evacuated and threatened to use military force in the contrary case. What is your response to this?

Tens of similar statements have been made until today. I can say that the people of Shengal trusted in the KDP and thought that it would protect them. However, on the first day of the attack, KDP peshmergas abandoned these people and enabled the massacre. What makes us angry and hurt is not the ISIS massacre but the abandoning of people. Those that abandoned us now say ‘They should leave Shengal.’ I ask them this question: What have you done, other than running away, so far? YJŞ and YBŞ are the forces of Êzîdxan. They were established as the self-defense force of Êzidî people. If someone needs to leave Shengal, it is those that abandoned the people here.

For this reason, I tell our people to not trust those that have already disappointed you. Do not believe in the black propaganda against the YJŞ and YBŞ. Choose freedom and join the YJŞ and YBŞ, which are composed of Êzidî youth. I call upon the Êzidî people in South and North Kurdistan: Return to Shengal…”