Shengal people: We won't let out hopes be destroyed

The people of Shengal are on guard to protect their institutions against the agreement reached between the Iraqi government and the KDP on 9 October.

In the center of Shengal as well as in the districts of Xanesor, Gohbel and Sînûnê, the people are standing up every evening in defense of their institutions against the agreement reached between the Iraqi government and the KDP on 9 October.

The people of Shengal say that they will protect their institutions and that they will not give up their gains against the agreement signed between the KDP and the Iraqi government. Sinûnê Council co-chair Xwedêda Îlyas Kiçî, council member Xelef Qasim and Sinûnê municipal council member Xeyrî Berkat Îsmaîl gave information on the issue.

Saying that they will never accept this dirty plan against Shengal, Sinûnê Council co-chair Xwedêda Îlyas Kiçî added that the forces that abandoned the Yazidi people to face ISIS brutality are now putting their dirty plans into action.

Xwedêda Îlyas Kiçî said: "We will not let them destroy our hopes. Because these hopes were built on the blood of the martyrs and on our great efforts. We believe that our people will not rely on those who betrayed them. Do not support the party that betrays us and confronts us with massacre. We do not want the traitors to come to Shengal lands."

Reminding that the people of Shengal are holding a human lives action to protect their institutions against possible attacks, Sinûnê council member Xelef Qasim pointed out that the decision taken on Shengal did not serve the Yazidi people.

Emphasizing that the Yazidi people will not accept any decision that disregards their will, Qasim said that they will continue to be on the alert. Emphasizing that they are ready against all kinds of attacks, Xelef Qasim concluded his speech with the following words: "We will not allow anyone to attack us as it  happened in 2014. Everyone is on guard now. We do not recognise those who do not recognise our will. We are ready to defend the Yazidi community."

Noting that stay on the alert is their most important duty, Sinûnê municipal council member Xeyrî Berkat Îsmaîl said: "Whatever we do, we do it for ourselves, nobody comes and does nothing for us. These institutions are our institutions, it is our job to defend them. We have been managing these institutions for 6 years today. Today, our 6 years of achievements are in danger, the Yazidi people should protect their achievements.”

Xeyrî Berkat Îsmaîl added: “Why does the Iraqi government not recognize our autonomy, why does it not recognize our public service force? Our defense force is the YBŞ. They have been protecting us for 6 years. This force was formed from Yazidi youth. If the peshmerga of Nechirvan Barzani come to the Shengal Mountain tomorrow, the Yazidis will face another massacre. We are now an organized people, we got organized, we built our institutions. We don't need anyone. I take part in this vigil to protect our honor. Asayish and YBŞ are the defense forces of the Yazidi people. I can leave my children, my house, but I will not give up my public order forces."