The Yazidi people in Shengal took to the streets and protested the attacks of the occupying Turkish state against Shengal and Rojava, vowing that, “We will not give up honourable life and resistance.”
According to the Shengal Resistance Units (YBŞ), the Turkish state has carried out extensive attacks on Shengal by both warplanes and UCAVs in the last 3 days. A total of 16 locations were bombed. Most of the bombed locations were places where civilians live. The attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 6 fighters of the YBŞ.
The people of Shengal staged a protest march against the invasion attacks of the Turkish state, the co-operation of the ruling KDP and the silence of the Iraqi government.
The march from Sinune People's Assembly to Mam Zeki Boulevard was organised under the leadership of the Shengal Democratic Autonomy Assembly (MXDŞ), accompanied by slogans against treason.
After the march, the Free Yazidi Women's Movement (TAJÊ) and the Shengal Council of Tribes made a statement at Mam Zeki Boulevard. The statement called on the United Nations (UN), human rights organisations and the Iraqi government not to remain silent in the face of these attacks and to take a stand. The Yazidis stated that they would not be deterred by being massacred and would increase their struggle for freedom.
TAJÊ Coordination Member Şemê Remo said: “For the past few days, the occupying Turkish state has been carrying out intensive attacks on Shengal and martyring our children who defended themselves in the 2014 genocide. The silence of the Iraqi state raises questions; if they are not cooperating with the Turkish state, they should have raised their voices by now. We will never give up following in the footsteps of our martyrs, we will lead an honourable life in our own land. This is the commitment of our children and martyrs. Even if we lose tens of martyrs, we will never give up our resistance and defence of our people.”
Speaking on behalf of the Shengal Council of Tribes, Berekat Murat said: “We strongly condemn these attacks. We also appeal to the Iraqi state, they should immediately raise their voices and stop being part of the attacks. Civilians are being targeted in these attacks, our 10-year-old children are forced to defend themselves. As everyone knows, many attacks were carried out on this small piece of land. As a people who were subjected to genocide, our wounds have not yet healed. Once again, we call on human rights organisations to fulfil their duties and responsibilities; raise your voices.”
