On the ninth anniversary of the ISIS genocide against Yazidis on 3 August 2014, a workshop was organized in the Sinun town of Shengal (Sinjar) under the motto “Our unity is our self-power against persecution”.

The workshop was organized by the Coordination of Shengal Constituents and Forces, which involves the PADÊ (Yazidi Party for Freedom and Democracy), PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) and Teqedûm (Progress) parties and representatives of various beliefs and communities.

Hundreds of people attended the workshop, including PADÊ Co-Chair Hüseyin Haci, PUK Shengal Representative Davud Cindi, Teqedûm President Said Bedduş, Christian Representative Gabriel Shemhun, Sunni Representative Adil Süleyman, Turkmen Representative Abdulrezak Reza, Shiite Representative Seyid Mahmud, representatives of the Shengal Autonomous Administration and affiliated institutions, as well as the notables of Shengal.

Opening speeches on behalf of the Coordination of Shengal Constituents and Forces called on the Yazidi people and other communities in Shengal to strengthen their unity, urging the Iraqi state to fulfill its responsibilities towards Shengal and to pave the way for the self-governance of the Shengal community.

PUK Shengal Representative Davud Cindi highlighted the vicious plans against the Yazidi community and Shengal, adding: “Nine years have passed since the genocide but tens of thousands of our people are still living in camps and prevented from returning to Shengal.”

Davud Cindi called on Iraq to support the Coordination of Shengal Constituents and Forces, saying: “We do not accept any decision against Shengal that does not involve us, the constituents. We will not allow those who had claimed to defend us before the genocide but failed to do so during the onslaught to have a say about us.”

The Governor of Mosul, Enver Ali Gepo, said: “They put us through great suffering. Yet, history will write about the resistance on Mount Shengal. As the Yazidi community, we state once again that the Shengal issue is a political matter.”

Shiite Representative Seyid Mahmud called for their demands to be met, saying: “First of all, we must struggle in unity. Secondly, Shengal must be ruled over by its own people. Thirdly, the issue of mass graves must be resolved. Lastly, the Yazidis still in ISIS captivity must be rescued.”