Federation of Êzîdî Associations in Europe President Fikret İğrek stated that Êzîdîs in camps in South Kurdistan are under KDP pressure, and the people of Shengal would never give up on their demand for self-determination. Fikret İğrek is also a member of the Shengal on Exile Council and has evaluated the policies on Êzîdîs and the current situation in Shengal to ANF.

İğrek stated that he has recently been in Shengal region and the forces of HPG, YPG and YBŞ continue their resistance against ISIS gangs. İğrek said that the resistance enabled civilians to start returning to Shengal, which also increased livelihood needs in the city. İğrek emphasized that people of Shengal have many problems, predominantly on issues regarding education.

‘UN SHOULD FORM A SECURE REGION IN SHENGAL’

İğrek stated that Êzîdî people would never give up on their demand for self-determination and called upon the UN and international powers to support them on this issue. İğrek criticized international powers’ silence on what happened in Shengal and said that they were voicing Êzîdî’s most important demand of establishing self-determination and autonomous administration in Shengal. İğrek called upon the UN to form a secure region in Shengal and said that this would ease returns to the city.

‘KDP PRESSURES ÊZÎDÎS IN CAMPS

İğrek stated that KDP pressures Êzîdîs who live in camps in South Kurdistan, and hundreds of Êzîdî youth are prevented from joining YBŞ that fights for the liberation of Shengal. İğrek stated that many people he spoke to during his visit to the camps informed him that they were under constant pressure and their basic need were not met. İğrek criticized KDP’s prevention of Êzîdîs from returning to Shengal and joining YBŞ ranks.

‘NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE AMONG KURDISH PEOPLE’

İğrek stated that nobody had the right to discriminate among Kurdish people and called on KDP administrators to stop their discriminatory policies that harm the struggle of Kurdish people as a whole. İğrek said that KDP increased pressures after the formation of Shengal Autonomous Regional Council in the city and reminded that everyone had the right to live equally no matter what their religions and identities were. İğrek said that everyone who lives in this region has the right to live equally since everyone bleeds and dies for the defense of these lands.

‘KDP DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO NOT WANT AN AUTONOMOUS ADMINISTRATION IN SHENGAL’

Federation President emphasized that KDP does not have the right to not want an autonomous administration for the people of Shengal and recalled that 9 thousand peshmergas had abandoned the town and handed the civilians over to ISIS during the gangs’ occupation of the town last year. İğrek said that KDP would have the right to demand something if peshmerge had paid a price here, but reminded that this was not the case.

İğrek stated that HPG and YPG were the only forces that protect Êzîdîs today and criticized KDP’s false accusations targeting the PKK. İğrek said that HPG and YPG came to Shengal after the call of Êzîdî people and fight for the liberation of Shengal. İğrek pointed out that PKK would move out of the area if Êzîdîs in the town were allowed to establish their self-defense and autonomous administration.